SULTANPUR: Escalating his attack on rival parties, BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday referred to Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP as 'Kasab', the name of the lone gunman who was caught alive in the 2008-Mumbai attack and later hanged.

"Until you free Uttar Pradesh from 'Kasab', the state can't be developed. Shall I tell you what does 'Kasab' mean? It's 'Ka' for Congress, 'Sa' for Samajwadi Party and 'Ba' for Bahujan Samaj Party," Shah said during a rally here.

In remark which is unlikely to go down well among opposition, Shah said, "This 'Kasab' has put the development of UP on hold".

Ajmal Amir Kasab was a Pakistani militant and a member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. He was the only attacker captured alive by police during 2008 Mumbai attacks and was hanged on 21 November 2012.

In his tirade against Akhilesh Yadav, Shah said the Chief Minister has made UP 'number one' in crime.

"Akhilesh did work. He has taken the state to top in murders and rapes," he said.



Attacking Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh, the BJP leader said while one had upset his mother, the other had troubled his father.

"With one, his mother is upset, while with the other, father is troubled and people are fed up with both of them," Shah, who has campaigned extensively in UP, said.