Why Did HM Amit Shah Criticize Rahul Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra?

Patna, Sep 18 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Thursday, launched a pointed critique of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding his recently concluded Voter Adhikar Yatra, labeling it as a campaign to protect infiltrators.

"Rahul Gandhi did not arrive in Bihar for a Voter Adhikar Yatra but for a 'Save the Infiltrators Yatra'. His visit was not focused on education, employment, electricity, or infrastructure for Bihar, but rather on shielding infiltrators from Bangladesh. It was essentially an Infiltrator Rescue Tour," asserted Union Minister Shah while addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters in Dehri, located in Bihar's Rohtas district.

The Union Minister urged BJP members to convey this message to the public.

"Should infiltrators be granted voting rights? Should they receive free rations, jobs, housing, and access to Ayushman Bharat medical treatment worth Rs 5 lakh while the youth of our nation are left behind?" he questioned.

Pointing fingers at the Opposition for deceiving the public, Union Minister Shah stated, "Rahul Gandhi and his associates are offering jobs to vote-bank infiltrators rather than our young people. If an (Opposition-led) government mistakenly comes to power, infiltrators will proliferate throughout Bihar."

He emphasized that the BJP would staunchly defend the SC/ST/OBC reservation system, stating, "As long as even one BJP MP serves in Parliament, reservations will remain intact."

He commended the Prime Minister's dedication, highlighting that Narendra Modi has served as Chief Minister and Prime Minister for 24 years without taking a single day off.

In a subtle jab at Rahul Gandhi, he noted, "Some leaders can't rest unless they travel abroad every six months. However, PM Modi always prioritizes the nation, then the party, followed by party workers—never his family."

Union Minister Shah also responded to Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who had recently questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's contributions.

"Lalu Prasad Yadav queried what PM Modi has accomplished so far. I want to remind him—between 2004 and 2014, while he served as a Union Minister, Bihar received Rs 2.8 lakh crore from the Centre. But from 2014 to 2024, under PM Modi, Bihar has received Rs 9.85 lakh crore," he remarked.

Admitting that the BJP had not performed well in the Magadh and Shahabad regions during the 2020 Assembly election, Union Minister Shah encouraged party members to ensure a robust electoral performance this time around.

"We must secure the NDA's victory in over 80 percent of the seats here. All workers should commit to ensuring that 80 percent of these seats go to the BJP," he asserted.

Union Minister Shah addressed BJP members from Bihar's Shahabad and Magadh regions in Dehri, where he lauded the achievements of the Narendra Modi administration.

"Could you have envisioned that a Ram temple would be constructed in Ayodhya in just 11 years? Yet PM Modi laid the foundation stone and consecrated it with the chants of 'Jai Shri Ram'. He abolished Article 370, ended triple talaq, introduced the CAA, executed surgical strikes, air strikes, and Operation Sindoor to eliminate terrorists in Pakistan. He even dispatched a spacecraft to the Moon's South Pole and named it 'Shiv Shakti Point'," he remarked.

The Union Home Minister underscored India's ascent on the global stage, claiming that the Indian economy has surged from the 11th to the 4th position under PM Modi's guidance.

He also announced the construction of a Sita Mata temple worth Rs 800 crore in Sitamarhi.

"By lowering GST rates, we have eased the burden on the kitchens of mothers and sisters by 20 percent. The poorest in Bihar have benefitted the most, with 81 crore individuals across India receiving free rations," he continued.

Enumerating the NDA government's welfare initiatives, Union Minister Shah stated, "A total of 56 crore bank accounts have been opened for the underprivileged, 42 crore beneficiaries are covered under Ayushman Bharat, 15 crore households have been provided tap water, 12 crore homes have been equipped with toilets, 10 crore homes have received gas connections, 4 crore families have been given housing, and 1.5 crore citizens have become millionaires through entrepreneurship and support schemes."

He predicted a significant victory for the NDA in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Bihar, stating, "This time our majority will be so overwhelming that the Opposition will be entirely sidelined. Tejashwi Yadav won't even dare to contest the next Assembly election."

Directly addressing RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Union Minister Shah remarked, "A government characterized by ransom, kidnapping, and murder can never foster prosperity. Bihar requires a government led by Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar. Only this double-engine government can guarantee development."

The event was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, State BJP President Dilip Jaiswal, Ministers Santosh Singh and Prem Kumar, party in-charge Bhikubhai Dalsaniya, former MP Gopal Narayan Singh, and MLC Nivedita Singh, among others.