Dismissing the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as “casteist” and “dynastic,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said only the BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, could take forward “sarv samaj” or the entire society.
Addressing a jan vishwas rally at Kasganj in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Shah, referring to BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav as “bua-babua,” asked whether under their rule everyone received development. “They are jativadi [casteist] and parivarvadi [dynastic] parties,” said Mr. Shah.
Mr. Shah appealed to voters in Uttar Pradesh to “score a boundary” and “hit a four” by ensuring a fourth consecutive win for the BJP in the State after 2014, 2017 and 2019.
Targetting the previous SP government, Mr. Shah said that earlier there used to be a ‘bahubali’ (political strongman), a mini-Chief Minister and a scam in each district. In contrast, under the BJP government, there was one product (One District One Product scheme), one industry and one medical college in each district.
Pat for Kalyan Singh
Mr. Shah also praised the legacy of former Chief Minister and OBC leader Kalyan Singh, who died earlier this year, for “clearing the way” for a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by giving up power in Uttar Pradesh, in a reference to the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992.
Mr. Shah said Singh was the first person who spoke about “sushashan” (good governance) and for providing the backward caste people their rights.
“Had babuji [Singh] not provided me margdarshan [guidance] the victories in 2014, 2017 and 2019 would not have been possible,” said Mr. Shah.
