Amit Shah defends 'firecrackers in Pakistan' comment, says BJP will win in Bihar

NEW DELHI: BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday defended his comments on 'firecrackers in Pakistan' in the wake of his party's loss in Bihar polls, saying there was no communal angle behind it.

"What I said means if Modi and BJP are weakened, it is natural for the anti-national forces to be happy. I am only saying this much. Where is communalism in this? I have not taken the name of any religion," Shah said while speaking to Times Now.

He also took on the JD(U)-RJD-Congress Mahagathbandhan, which is contesting the Bihar assembly election against the BJP, saying these parties have not come together because of values but because of greed for power. "The person who was against Lalu has now joined hands with him. What is this? Our opponents have come together not because of values but because of BJP's strength," Shah said.

At the same time, he also expressed confidence that the BJP is going to win the elections in Bihar. "We are going to win Bihar polls with a majority. This win will make it easier for us at the Centre," the BJP chief said.

Shah, however, steered clear of questions whether he considered the outcome of Bihar polls a referendum on the performance of the Narendra Modi government.
"You ask me the question on November 8, I will reply. But I know you will not ask because we would have won. We are going to get a two-third majority... I do not have any confusion", Shah said.

When pressed further, he said that this is an election for Bihar which should be fought on issues concerning the state. "The election is for Bihar whether it is a referendum on Bihar or not will be decided by people of Bihar on November 8. Election should be fought on the issues of Bihar. The issues here are Bijli, pani and sadak.

"Here the issue is not what Modiji did about foreign policy or what is the country's growth rate. Elections should be fought on Bihar issues and since they are so many issues of Bihar, it will not reach the level of national issues," Shah said.

When asked how much personal stake he has in the Bihar poll outcome, Shah said, "I have never made victory or defeat in any elections a matter of prestige, the party is bigger than me or any individual." At the same time, Shah said it is important for the nation that BJP wins elections in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal so that the country can achieve double digit growth.