BJP Already Bagged 310 Seats, Will Surpass 400 In Remaining Two Phases, Says Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed on Tuesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already surpassed the 310-seat mark in the ongoing Lok Sabha election after five phases of polling. He expressed confidence that the party would exceed its target of 400 seats in the remaining two phases.

 

Amit Shah urged the people of Odisha to free the state from babu-raj and support the BJP in forming the government both at the Centre and in the state. Speaking at two election rallies in Sambalpur, where Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is the BJP candidate, Shah expressed confidence that the lotus, the party’s symbol, would bloom in Odisha this time, reported PTI.

 

Amit Shah alleged that Odisha has been governed by a small group of officers, saying that the upcoming election will put an end to the ongoing babu raj in the state. He criticised the lack of benefits for the tribals of Keonjhar, despite the district being rich in mines and mineral reserves.

 

 

Shah also claimed that PM Modi has successfully eliminated terrorism across the country, stating that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was, and will remain, a part of India, emphasising that India would reclaim PoK.

 

He slammed the Congress and its leaders, accusing them of being frightened by Pakistan’s possession of an atomic bomb. “Modi has given a befitting reply to Pakistan’s terror activities and he does not fear such threat of nuclear bomb”, Shah said.

Shah Heaped Praises On PM Modi 

Shah criticised the previous Congress government, stating that they had failed to address the needs of the tribal communities. He also alluded to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s initiative in forming a separate ministry for tribal affairs, contrasting it with the proactive measures taken by PM Modi to combat Naxalism in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. 

 

“PM Modi has constituted DMF (district mineral foundation) and given crores of rupees for the development of the tribal region. The budgetary allocation for tribal affairs has been enhanced to Rs 1.25 lakh crore during Modi government from Rs 25,000 crore given during the previous UPA regime”, Shah said, adding that the BJP government has set up 740 Ekalabya Schools where one lakh students have been studying. 

 

Shah mentioned the appointment of approximately 40,000 teachers in schools and pledged to ensure kendu leaf pluckers receive bonuses and fair prices for their minor forest produce. Additionally, he unveiled plans for the establishment of a 500-bed hospital in Keonjhar and another 500-bed hospital along with a medical college in Sambalpur.

 

Amit Shah said, “This time, BJP is fighting Assembly elections for Odia language, Odia literature, pride of Odisha and history of Utkal Bhoomi. Tell me, can a ‘Tamil Babu’ rule Odisha? Naveen Babu has made ‘Tamil Babus’ the king of Odisha. This is the question of respect of Odia. Uproot this BJD government, BJP will give you a son of this soil, someone who speaks Odia language as the Chief Minister of the state.”

#WATCH | Dhenkanal, Odisha: Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “This time, BJP is fighting Assembly elections for Odia language, Odia literature, pride of Odisha and history of Utkal Bhoomi. Tell me, can a ‘Tamil Babu’ rule Odisha? Naveen Babu has made ‘Tamil Babus’ the king of… pic.twitter.com/1iygoX71d4

— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2024

 

 

Shah said that the new BJP government would generate employment opportunities for two lakh people within a year and a half. Criticising CM Naveen Patnaik, Shah accused him of imposing ‘Babu shahi’ (rule of bureaucrats) on Odisha, which he claimed undermined the pride and dignity of the Odia people and suppressed the state’s culture.

 

Shah urged the people to elect a BJP government in the state to ensure rapid development and the preservation of their rich cultural heritage.”A Bhumiputra will rule the land of ‘Utkala Bhumi’ and not a Tamil babu if people vote for BJP”,he said.

 

Accusing the BJD government of aiming to transform the Jagannath temple into a commercial center, Shah claimed that mutts and temples in Puri have been demolished, and all four gates of the Jagannath temple remain closed to the public. He alleged a conspiracy to halt the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.

 

Furthermore, Shah accused CM Naveen Patnaik of exploiting the state’s mineral resources, leaving no stone unturned to loot them. Despite Odisha’s abundant mineral wealth, Shah criticised the lack of a chief minister capable of safeguarding these resources.

 

The BJD government has also neglected western Odisha. BJP is committed for equal development of all parts of the state, the Home minister said.