Uttar Pradesh polls: Amit Shah targets SP, BSP, Congress for ganging up against BJP in state

Etah (Uttar Pradesh): BJP president Amit Shah targeted Rahul Gandhi, saying that instead of embarking on roadshows against demonetisation, the Congress vice-president should take out “yatras against unemployment, poverty and starvation”. [caption id=“attachment_2870410” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  BJP president Amit Shah. PTI[/caption] Addressing BJP’s ‘Parivartan Rally’ on Friday, Shah also hit out at other opposition parties, including Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Trinamool Congress for “ganging up” against demonetisation and disrupting parliamentary proceedings, resulting in a virtual washout of the Winter Session. “Rahul baba is undertaking padyatras daily. It will be better if Rahul takes out yatras against unemployment, poverty and starvation,” Shah said, targeting the Congress leader, who has been aggressively campaigning against demonetisation. “He (Rahul) asks what change has come after BJP came to power. He will not be able to see as he has ‘Italian chashma’ (Italian glasses) on his eyes,” Shah said, in an apparent reference to the Italian roots of Rahul’s mother Sonia Gandhi. The BJP chief likened the unity among opposition parties on the issue of demonetisation to animals in a jungle climbing the same tree to save their lives from raging floods. He likened SP, BSP and Congress to “naagnath and saanpnath” (snakes) sitting over schemes for development of Uttar Pradesh, forcing youth to migrate to other states for menial jobs. He asserted that “come what may, BJP will come to power” after the coming Assembly election. He said demonetisation has taken the wind out of BSP supremo Mayawati’s sails. Shah said, “Till 7 November, these parties used to ask ‘Modiji, what have you done to check black money?’ Now, these very parties ask ‘Modiji why have you done this to check black money?’” the BJP chief said. The tough step has caused discomfort to those having lakhs of crores of rupees ill-gotten money, Shah said. Noting that it was his duty to answer the questions being raised by the opposition parties on note ban, Shah said every single paisa being deposited after deducting the 75 to 85 percent penalty by the black money holders will be used for the development and welfare works. Attacking Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Shah said he should give an account of his achievements during his nearly five-year rule rather than trying to divert the people’s attention by raising the issue of demonetisation.