Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Tuesday launched an attack on the "Ma-Beta" Congress party, questioning how individuals facing charges can give a good government in the hill state. In a democracy like India, the days of "raja-rani" are over, and it is now the time of regular people, Shah stated further, news agency PTI reported. 


His words appeared to be a dig at Congress (mother-son duo) leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, as well as Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh in Himachal Pradesh.


Addressing a public rally in support of Bhattiyat MLA and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, he urged people to re-elect the saffron party to power in the state, breaking the state's tradition of not repeating a government.


"There is democracy in the country and gone are the days of raja-rani. It is the time of common people. We have to elect a government that works for the development of the state," PTI quoted him as saying. 


Shah stated that he has heard Congress leaders' comments and that they have nothing to offer other than relying on the hill state's legacy of alternative governments.


"Change this tradition of alternative governments and repeat the BJP in the state," Shah said. 


Form a BJP government for the second time, breaking with precedent, and we would secure a drug-free Himachal by putting a stop to the narcotics trade in the state, Shah added. 


"(Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji has taken a pledge for a drugs-free India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav," the home minister said to a roaring audience, PTI reported. 


"I have heard the speeches of Congress leaders. They have nothing to say except stressing on the 'riwaz' (tradition)," he said, coining a new slogan -- "Ek bar BJP, bar bar BJP".


Accusing the Congress of trying to create divisions between upper and lower Himachal, Shah said, "But Rahul baba, upper Himachal and lower Himachal both belong to the BJP and so does every nook and corner of the state."






Alleging that the Congress was responsible for "scams" involving a total amount Rs 12 lakh crore during its government at the Centre, the home minister said, "Still not satiated, they have now come to Himachal Pradesh. How can those facing a chargesheet give a good government in the state?"


Shah stated, "There is nothing in the name of progress in the utterances of the Congress leaders." "It's a ma-beta party in Delhi, and it's a ma-beta party here as well, with no room for youngsters. Only the BJP caters to young people."


Stressing on Modi's development plank and his fondness for Himachal Pradesh, he said the prime minister has worked here for years and that is why he is familiar with every corner of the state.


Shah also recalled that the BJP has laid a web of roads in the state and that a medical college is coming up in Chamba.


"It has its own strength when there is a dual-engine administration. If anyone has benefited the most from the Modi administration, it is the country's 80 million poor people "He mentioned a number of central programmes.


Shah claimed that during the previous UPA regime, terrorists beheaded Indian soldiers on a regular basis, but Congress officials did not say anything because they feared losing their vote bank.


"But it is now the Modi government, not Mauni Baba Manmohan Singh's," he continued, referring to the surgical strikes inside Pakistan.


Shah also brought up the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, claiming that it was Modi who made these things possible.


"You will see a wonderful, sky-touching Ram Mandir after 2024, and you should book your tickets," he stated, while mentioning the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi's construction.


"The Congress was attempting to disrespect our heritage, holy monuments, and icons, but Modiji made this feasible without regard for vote banks," Shah remarked.


The home minister paid tribute to the Himachal Pradesh jawans who gave their life for the country, saying the state supplies the most personnel to the armed services.


During his two-day tour of the hill state, Shah is expected to address a series of rallies in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh.


Himachal Pradesh will hold elections on November 12 and vote counting will begin on December 8. The BJP is seeking re-election in the state, while the Congress is attempting to dethrone the saffron party, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is attempting to carve out new political space.


(With Inputs From PTI)