‘We’re that party which considers PoK as part of India’: Amit Shah attacks Rahul over Article 370 at Haryana rally

In his about 25-minute address, Shah praised Haryana for the number of soldiers who serve in the armed forces, green revolution and the medals won in Olympics and Paralympics.

“In the last 10 years, Modiji ensured development for farmers, sportspersons and everybody else,” Shah said.

Shah also launched a scathing attack on former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

“From here, I would like to ask Hooda sahib. Haryana is a state that sends the maximum number of soldiers to the borders. For several years, they were demanding a one-rank-one-pension scheme. Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Manmohan Singh… Nobody gave them OROP. You made Narendra Modi prime minister and he gave it to you,” Shah said, while seeking a third term for the BJP in the Assembly.

Accusing the Congress of misleading people on the short-term military recruitment scheme, Shah said no Agniveer would be jobless after serving in the forces for the stipulated time. “I told Chief Minister Nayab Singh Sainiji that everybody is going to get jobs with pensions. Sainiji told me that he would give job to all the Agniveers. I would like caution Hooda & Co to stop spreading lies and misleading people. Whatever I say I do, and whatever Modiji indicates that also happens. I can say it today that whenever any Agniveer returns, he will not stay without a job. It is the responsibility of the BJP,” he said.

“We are having polls in Kashmir too. Rahul baba went there. What is their agenda? They will release all terrorists and restore Article 370. Arre Rahul baba, hear us loud and clear: Narendra Modi is sitting on top; you haven’t yet formed the government there. Nobody can look with an evil eye towards our Kashmir. Loharu-waalo, tell us: should Article 370 be restored? Hooda sahib should also tell the people of Loharu whether he wants Article 370 to be restored. But I can say it today, be it to Hoodaji or Rahul baba, that Article 370 will never come back. Arre Rahul Gandhi, hum toh woh party hain jo maanti hai ke Pakistan-waala Kashmir bhi Hindustan ka hi hai. (We’re that party which considers Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a part of India).”

Praise for CM Nayab Singh Saini

Shah said also praised Chief Minister Saini for his decision to purchase 24 crops on minimum support prices. “I would like to ask Hooda sahib. How many crops did you purchase on MSP? Hooda sahib purchased only four crops on MSP. Today, Saini is purchasing 24 crops on MSP. It was during the BJP’s tenure that the most crops ever have been purchased on MSP. We will not leave even a single grain of all these 24 crops. We will buy each and every grain,” the Union home minister added.

“In our 10 years, our Government has not left even a single place where we do not have a good stadium. I have spoken to Nayab Singh Saini. He told me that in coming days, the BJP will ensure such facilities in each and every block of Haryana,” Shah said.

“Haryana blessed Modiji with 47 seats in 2014 and helped to form the Government in 2019. Now will you [help the BJP] form the Government in 2024 or not? A journalist called me today. He told me the Congress was fighting with itself, not the BJP. Four people want to become the chief minister and are fighting with each other within the party. Can such a party ever form the Government?” Shah said.

Shah urged the gathering to vote for Dalal. “In 2019, Loharu blessed J P Dalal. We made him the agriculture minister and the finance minister too. It was J P Dalal who created the network of rivers from Haryana to Rajasthan. Electricity for 24 hours, health facilities, road connectivity… everything was ensured by our J P Dala,l” the BJP leader said.

Shah also cited several public welfare schemes the BJP government had implemented in Haryana over the past 10 years.

Shah termed the chief ministerial tenures of Om Prakash Chautala and Bhupinder Singh Hooda as corrupt and said the BJP government had assured merit-based recruitment in the state. “The BJP government came, Modiji came and Nayab Sainiji came. Parchi-kharchi vanished. Now the postman comes to your home and delivers the appointment letter,” he said.

Message for BJP’s chief ministerial aspirants

Later in Faridabad, while criticising the factionalism in the Congress, Shah gave a message to the cadres of his party. “Our leadership is clear. We are contesting polls under the leadership of Nayab Singh Saini,” he said.

Concluding his address in Faridabad, he once again asked the crowd, “Will you help the BJP form the government again? Will you strengthen Modiji’s hands? Will you make Nayab Singh Saini Haryana’s chief minister again?”

Shah’s emphasis on Saini is also a message to BJP leaders such as former minister Anil Vij and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh, who have thrown their hats in the ring saying that they will stake a claim for the chief minister’s job.

Singh reiterated his sentiments on Monday. “Are we worse than even garbage? After 12 years, even garbage gets its turn. We have had the BJP government for 10 years… I mean to say that I feel that our turn may also come this time,” the Gurgaon MP told a gathering in Bawal.

On September 9, Singh said in Rewari, “People want me to become the next chief minister. If this region’s people had not supported the BJP, Manohar Lal Khattar would never have become the chief minister twice.”