Amit Shah hits out at Congress over AgustaWestland scam, dynastic politics on last day of campaigning in Rajasthan

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah hit out at Congress over the AgustaWestland chopper deal case, questioning if the Opposition parties want to save middlemen Christen Michel, who was arrested on Wednesday following his extradition from UAE.

The Opposition had criticised the BJP questioning the timing of Michels’ extradition to India when elections to state assemblies are going on and the Lok Sabha polls are right around the corner.

Answering a question at a press conference held to offer details about BJP’s electoral campaign in Rajasthan, Shah said that Congress has no other issue but to criticise the BJP. “You tell me, does the Opposition want to save him?” he said.

Michel is accused of paying bribes to officials and politicians to swing the contract in favour of AgustaWestland, the British arm of Italian firm Finmeccanica.

Speaking to media in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, Shah also claimed that the BJP will form the next state government “with a full majority” in the poll-bound state. He also expressed confidence that the Narendra Modi government will serve another term following the Lok Sabha elections next year.

“Our party held 13 public meetings, 222 big public meetings and has also done 15 roadshows in Rajasthan,” he said.

Key BJP leaders like Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been campaigning in the state to garner votes for the saffron party.

The BJP president then went on to point out the Congress’ pitfalls, saying that the Opposition party practices the politics of “jaativaad (caste-based politics), parivarvaad (dynastic politics), and drishtikaran (politics of appeasement).”

His comments come amid personal attacks on the prime minister from Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who said that Modi did not understand the foundation of Hinduism .

Conversely, Shah said that the BJP has only kept Rajasthan’s future in mind, and focussed on the issues of its development, and poor welfare.“Rajasthan has rejected Congress’ caste and dynasty politics, and welcomed the BJP’s commitment,” he said, adding that “we don’t give tickets to candidates based on caste and religion, we only encourage genuine aspirants”.

Shah noted that lakhs of people in the state have benefitted from the NDA’s flagship schemes, including the 80 lakh beneficiaries of the Swachh Bharat scheme. He said that these people now have bathrooms in their homes.

When asked a question on the recent violence in Bulandshahr , Shah says it is unfair to politicise the issue. He adds that the report from the SIT will paint a clearer picture.

Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha elections are slated to be held on 7 December, and the results will be declared on 11 December.

Click here to read more about the  key candidates  for the state polls.

Click here to read more about the key constituencies in Rajasthan ahead of the polls.