Union Home Minister Amit Shah has rejected AAP’s challenge in the upcoming Gujarat polls saying that the party may not even open its account. Shah said that the BJP will register an unprecedented victory in Gujarat.
In an interview with PTI, the Union Minister talked about various issues including the Gujarat elections, PM Modi’s popularity, national security, and rising inflation.
Shah On Gujarat Assembly Polls Results
Describing PM Narendra Modi’s popularity as one of the reasons for the BJP’s 27-year rule in the state, Shah said that it was PM Modi’s tenure as the state CM and the zero-appeasement policy that made people trust BJP over the years.
"The BJP will register an unprecedented victory in Gujarat. People have full faith in our party and our leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Shah added.
When asked about the Aam Aadmi Party contesting the polls, he said, "Every party has a right to contest elections, but it is up to people whether they accept the party or not."
Shah further added, "AAP is nowhere in the mind of the people of Gujarat. Wait for election results, maybe AAP’s name would not figure in the list of successful candidates."
Talking about the Congress, the BJP leader said, "It is still the main opposition party, but the party is going through a crisis, and its impact is visible in Gujarat as well."
Speaking on Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra Shah said that sustained efforts are a must in politics.
"I have always been of the view that politicians need to be hard working and it is good when someone works hard. But in politics only sustained efforts show results. So, let's wait and see," he told PTI.
Security, Law And Order In The State
Addressing the issue of national security, the minister said they are important in every assembly poll.
"Is the security of Gujarat associated with national security or not? Security of Gujarat and national security are not different issues. And if the country is not secure, how can Gujarat be secure? Therefore, national security is a major issue in all state assembly polls," he mentioned.
Emphasing the security concerns in Gujarat as it is a border state, he said, "Being a border state, the people of Gujarat are sensitive about national security. We cannot afford to have national security impacted at any one location in the country."
BJP top brass, including UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Amit Shah, have raised the issue of law and order in speeches during the election campaign. They stated that ending lawlessness was one of the achievements of the saffron party in the state.
Speaking about BJP’s poll promise of anti-radicalisation cell in the state, he said that it is a good initiative. Adding about the PFI ban, he said that the Popular Front of India (PFI) was banned after due diligence and several states had demanded it.
"The Modi government decided to ban PFI after gathering a lot of information and proof related to their anti-national activities, especially their activities to push youth towards terrorism by radicalising them...and several states have demanded to ban PFI. Such activities of any organisation will not be tolerated in the Modi government," Shah told PTI.
When asked if anti-radicalisation cell would be set up in other states too, the former BJP President said, "It is a good initiative. Let it be implemented (here) first. It will be given a legal shape and its working mechanism will be decided." He added that radicalisation should be checked not only in Gujarat but in other states too.
"And it (anti-radicalisation cell) can be considered at the national level and other states. Radicalisation has nothing to do with any sect, but we all know which forces are promoting radicalisation. And the entire world is concerned about it," Shah said.
On the allegations of misusing the investigating agencies against the Opposition, the minister said that “if there is any misuse of investigative agencies, then they can approach the judiciary".
Inflation In Country
When asked if inflation could impact the election outcomes, Shah admitted the effect of an economic slowdown across the globe and said that India is among the least affected countries.
He said, "Slowdown was a global challenge after Covid but still the Indian economy witnessed a V-shaped recovery. Similarly, I also believe India will very effectively tackle inflation, which is a challenge for countries across the globe. And today, the country’s social life is least impacted by inflation."
BJP’s Gujarat CM Face
On whether Bhupendra Patel will continue as chief minister if the BJP wins again, Shah said that Patel has been doing "good work and taking forward all the initiatives started by Prime Minister Modi as Gujarat chief minister".
BJP vs United Opposition
A possible united alliance of Opposition against the BJP has always found its way into the news. Reacting to this, Shah suggested that they (Opposition) stand nowhere in front of Prime Minister Modi’s popularity.
“If you look at the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government he gave in the last eight years, I do not think such alliances will have any impact. And these regional parties do not have anything outside their respective states,” he told PTI
He further added, "One regional party has nothing in another state. Eventually, it will be a one-on-one fight. And such alliances exist only on paper and are good for headlines."
Shah mentioned that BJP’s vote share jumped to 40 percent in West Bengal, and it won 18 Lok Sabha seats. He claimed the BJP will further improve its tally in West Bengal in the next Lok Sabha polls.
Talking about southern states, he said that in Telangana, the BJP has "become the main opposition party". "It takes time, but we are doing well in these states," he said.
Admitting that expansion of cadre-based parties is not possible overnight, he claimed that BJP was doing well in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Voting for the first phase of Gujarat polls will be held on Thursday, December 1 while the second phase of polling will be done on December 5. The results of the Gujarat and Himachal assembly elections will be declared on December 8.
(With PTI Inputs)