NDA's victory in Punjab must for national security: Shah

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Monday asked the electorate to vote for the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine in Punjab for the third time, stating that the alliance’s victory was necessary for the security of the country.

“The election in Punjab is an election for the security of the nation. Being a border-lying state, it is the responsibility of the electorate to choose a government which can ensure secure borders, communal harmony and peace. Punjab is the heart of India. If it is secure, the nation is secure,” he said.

Shah was addressing an election rally in Amritsar in support of BJP candidates for the Punjab assembly elections.

Launching an offensive against the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, he said Captain Amarinder Singh and Arvind Kejriwal were ‘daydreaming’ of becoming the chief minister of Punjab.

He said Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh is referred to as ‘absent MP’ as he never attended the Parliament nor visited Amritsar after being chosen as the MP from Amritsar.

“Will you ever vote for a person who is an ‘absent MP’? One who has been missing since becoming an MP? Well, even if he manages to become the CM, where will you go to find him?

“He uses Captain in front of his name but he takes orders from Rahul Baba (Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi). India is moving towards a Congress-free nation and I appeal you people to bar the entry of Congress in Punjab too,” he said.

Similarly, he said, Kejriwal was dreaming of becoming the CM of every state he visits.

“Some people are trying to do their best to defame Punjab. They are fooling people in order to seize power in Punjab. But I must say the people know it all. The electorate of Delhi which voted for you (Kejriwal) is now looking for you with binoculars,” the BJP chief said.

“I ask the people of Punjab to call up your relatives in Delhi and get a reality check,” he said.

Holding that Prime Minister Modi-led central government had ensured development of the state, Shah said, “PM Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley have a deep connection with Amritsar. Today, Amritsar has been declared a Heritage City and will soon become a Smart City.”

Thousands of crores have been sanctioned by the central government for Amritsar and it is visible in the development that has taken place here, he said.

The senior BJP leader also had a word of praise for Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

“There is nobody like CM Parkash Singh Badal. He is the epitome of sacrifice. He has dedicated his entire life for the betterment of Punjab. It hurts when people abuse him. Politics has hit a new low,” he said.

Shah added that ever since the Modi government came into power, no single allegation of corruption had been leveled against it.

“We have taken strong decisions like demonitisation, surgical strikes, neem-coated urea etc. We have given Punjab a lot and will give more in time to come. People of Punjab need to be united and ensure that there is Akali-BJP government here. The state government then in collaboration with Centre government will ensure even faster development of Punjab,” he said.

The BJP chief further exhorted the Punjab electorate to vote back the BJP-SAD alliance as it was ‘a symbol of Hindu-Sikh unity and the only partnership which could bring peace and development in the state.’

He also attacked Congress’s chief ministerial candidate Amarinder Singh for his ‘anti-farmer’ and ‘anti-youth’ policies.

“It was Amarinder when he was CM of the Congress government in Punjab, who had stopped giving free power to farmers. Today he claims to be a great sympathiser of the farm community,” Shah alleged.

Similarly he as the chief minister also introduced contract systems in jobs and put a stop to the regular recruitment of youth in the government, he added.

IMAGE: BJP president Amit Shah poses with a sword presented to him during 'Vijay Sankalp Yatra' rally at Amritsar on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo