Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, raising questions on various crucial matters ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Speaking at the rally, Shah questioned Gandhi on issues ranging from Triple Talaq to Article 370, while also criticising the Gandhi family's track record in the region.
Addressing the gathering, Shah posed five questions to Rahul Gandhi, emphasising the need for clarity on significant national issues. He said, "I want to ask 5 questions to Rahul Baba. Rahul Baba should answer the public that you want to bring back Triple Talaq? They are saying that they will bring it back. They say that they will bring Muslim personal law, Rahul Baba, please answer this."
Shah continued, "I want to ask him, do you support the surgical strike or not? I want to ask him, why didn't you go to Ram temple for darshan? Finally, Rahul Baba should tell the people of Bareilly whether he supports the removal of Article 370 or not?"
Drawing attention to the Gandhi family's stronghold in Raebareli, Shah criticised their alleged lack of presence and development in the constituency. "I was listening to sister Priyanka ji's speech, she said that I have come to ask for votes from my family. It is true, the people of Raebareli have made the Gandhi-Nehru family win for years. I ask them - how many times has Sonia Gandhi and her family come to Rae Bareli after being elected from here? More than 3 dozen major accidents happened in Rae Bareli, did the Gandhi family come?
He stated, "You gave the Gandhi family a chance for years, but no development work has been done... They (Congress) do not believe in development. They do not even come to you in your happiness and sorrows."
Sonia Gandhi Spent More Than 70% Of MP Funds On Minorities: Amit Shah
Furthermore, Shah accused former Raebareli Lok Sabha representative Sonia Gandhi of utilising a significant portion of her Member of Parliament funds on minorities. He alleged, "The 'shahzada' (prince) has come here to seek votes. You have been voting for many years. Have you received anything from the MP fund? If you have not received it, then where did it go? It went to their vote bank. Sonia Gandhi has spent more than 70 per cent of the MP funds on minorities."
Shah also targeted the Congress party's promises, highlighting discrepancies between pledges and actions, stating, "This Gandhi family is an expert in lying. They are now promising Rs 1 lakh for every woman. In the Telangana (assembly) elections, they had said that they would give Rs 15,000 to every woman. The women of the state elected them (Congress) ... Forget about Rs 15,000, they did not even give Rs 1,500."
The Union Home Minister's remarks come amidst escalating war of words in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
In addition to his criticism of the Congress leadership, Shah reiterated the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) commitment to development and national security.
Rahul Gandhi is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Raebareli seat which was represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the last two decades. After Sonia Gandhi recently moved to the Rajya Sabha, speculations were rife that daughter Priyanka would contest this seat only for Rahul Gandhi to be named while he is also seeking re-election from Wayanad in Kerala.
From the BJP, Dinesh Pratap Singh is pitted against Rahul Gandhi in Raebareli. The voting for the Raebareli constituency is scheduled for the fifth phase on May 20.