Confident that NDA will get 2/3 majority in Bihar assembly elections: Amit Shah

IANS photo

New Delhi: Union Home Minister and former BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday (June 7) launched the election campaign in Bihar as he addressed the party workers and cadres through a virtual rally, which was first of its kind. The Union Minister asserted that the Jansamvad rally has nothing to do with Bihar assembly elections, which is due this year but is aimed at connecting people for the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. 

The minister said he salutes crores of coronavirus warriors in the country who helped fight the virus outbreak. "I want to salute the crores of corona warriors who are fighting against the virus by risking their lives. Health workers, police personnel and others, I want to acknowledge their contribution," he said during his address.

The senior BJP minister lauded Bihar's historical relevance in the first rally in the state this year, stating, "The land of Bihar made the world experience democracy for the first time. Where the foundation of the great Magadha Empire was laid. This land has always led India."

Shah also took at dig at Opposition RJD and Congress, who protested earlier in the day against his rally by beating utensils. "Some people welcomed our today’s virtual rally by clanging thalis. I am glad they finally heard PM Modi’s appeal to show gratitude towards those fighting COVID-19," in a comment against today's protest held at Patna.

Recounting achievements of the central government and cited Citizenship Amendment Act, scrapping of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, abolition of Triple Talaq, power connections and toilets for poor, strong retaliation after Pulwama terror attack with airstrikes, establishment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

"India's defence policy has gained global acceptance. The whole world agrees that after the USA and Israel, if there is any country that is able to secure its borders, it is India," the minister stated.

"There was a time when anybody used to enter our borders, beheaded our soldiers and Delhi’s darbar remained unaffected. Uri and Pulwama happened during our time, it was the Modi and BJP govt, we did surgical strikes and airstrike," he said. 

The Union Home Minister stated that there are elections in Bihar in coming days and he expressed his confident that the NDA under the leadership of Nitish Kumar will form the government with at least 2/3rd majority. However, the minister stated that it was not the right time to discuss politics and appealed everyone to fight the battle against COVID-19 under PM Modi's leadership. 

Ripping into the RJD, Shah said that Bihar has moved from 'Lantern' to LED era. "Bihar's growth rate was 3.9 per cent when RJD was ruling and it reached to 11.3 per cent under Nitish Kumar. The state has moved from 'Lantern Raj to LED Raj', 'Loot and order to Law and Order', from 'Fodder scam to DBT', Bihar has come a long way," he stated.

Shah also took a veiled dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stating that while several people are conducting interviews, PM Modi is providing strong leadership to help the country come out of the COVID-19 crisis.