Hyderabad: BJP president Amit Shah was accorded a tumultuous welcome at the Hyderabad airport and at the venue of the meeting where he addressed party workers of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district at a function hall in Secunderabad. Mr Shah was lustily cheered when he took a dig at his opponents and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Blaming the previous UPA government for messing up formation of Telangana state and stating that bifurcation was not done properly, he assured that the Centre would extend full support to the new TRS government in Telangana as well as to the Andhra Pradesh government.
“For several years there was a struggle for a separate Telangana. BJP was the first and lone party to back the Telangana demand. The BJP was for self-rule for Telangana. But UPA messed up the bifurcation of the state,” he said. Referring to NDA carving out three states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand, he said people of the three states were so happy that they distributed sweets and burst crackers.
“There were celebrations everywhere. But in the case of Telangana, the Congress sowed seeds of hatred and created a wedge between people of the two regions. Bifurcation of Telangana was not done properly. For us, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are like brothers. Both states should focus on development and Centre will extend full support,” he remarked.
Mr Shah also complimented the Chief Ministers of both the states for holding talks and trying to sort out pending issues. “Whether the BJP is in power or not in these states, we welcome such an initiative and cooperation,” he added.
Offering his condolences to 150 BJP workers killed by Maoists and sacrifices by 1,600 youth for Telangana, the BJP president said Gujarat and Hyderabad had a long relationship.
Asking BJP leaders and cadre in the state to celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day on September 17 in a big way, he said the Centre would extend full support for the development of Telangana in all aspects.
Asserting that BJP alone could keep the country united, he said the country had a great leader and visionary in Mr Modi. “He (Mr Modi) came from a poor family. He was not born in raj gharana or a rich family. He rose to this level in the party and became Prime Minister through sheer hard work.”
“Every Indian felt proud when Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation on Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort without bulletproof glass. Mr Modi showed the path. He has a clear vision, road map and goal with micro planning,” the National BJP president said.
“Mr Modi has put forward several issues. He has promised savings account for every citizen and has planned a model village in every constituency. After a long time we have a person, who is focused on development of villages,” he said.
Taking a dig at the Congress, he said people have seen the Congress government for 10 years and it had failed on all fronts. Whether its security of the country, space safety, dollar-rupee issue, checking rising prices or safety of women, the Congress had failed on all fronts.
“I heard Ms Sonia Gandhi’s speech. She alleged that some people had won by making false promises. I want to tell the Congress president that we came to power just 90 days ago, yet we will fulfil all the promises made to people. You don’t bother,” he added. Mr Shah said that before seeking fresh mandate, all old poll promises would be fulfilled.
In a pointed question to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he asked “You (Sonia Gandhi) came to power promising to bring down prices, but failed to do it in 10 years. What happened to your promise? Congress should peep into its own promises. Congress rule was worst since independence. No government kept promises. It was steeped in scam after scam...If I talk about scams, it will take seven days and even then it will not be completed. Congress scams are unending.”
“Sonia Ji, don’t teach us lessons. Protect your existing Congress-ruled states. Ask CMs of the states to work for the welfare of people and not to fill their homes or else the governments will be thrown out.”
