BJP president Amit Shah kicks off party campaign in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: With a view to establish direct contact with people for preparing its 'vision document' for the crucial 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, BJP president Amit Shah today kicked off the party campaign here.

He said that as part of the 'Uttar Pradesh ki janata ki awaaz' campaign, the party will approach people to know about their aspirations and expectations from BJP, and take their suggestions in writing.

The BJP chief also launched a mobile number for the campaign, stating that the party will call back all those who would give a miss call on the number.

"Some 1,500 suggestion boxes named 'akansha' will be placed for taking written suggestions ...1,500 interactive programmes will be held for taking suggestions of youth, women and other sections of society," he said, adding that this process of dialogue and interaction will be completed in two months time.

"On the basis of the suggestions, the party will prepare its vision document," he said while flagging off 75 video vans for recording people's suggestions.

In an interaction with media persons later, Shah took a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who had yesterday stood in a queue to withdraw money from a bank.

"No one goes to bank in a Land Rover to withdraw Rs 4,000," he said.

To a question on SP state unit president Shivpal Singh Yadav blaming BJP for spreading rumours on shortage of salt, Shah said, "He is facing BJP phobia."

The BJP president said that his party was committed on the issue of construction of Ram temple and its stand was totally clear.

At another programme in the state capital, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad termed demonetisation as a "right step to check circulation of fake currency notes and ISI backed terror activities."

"But it is difficult to comprehend the opposition by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, BSP, SP and Congress...The entire nation needs to stand united on this issue," he said.