BJP chief Amit Shah launches Maharashtra poll campaign

MUMBAI: BJP chief Amit Shah on Thursday launched the party's campaign for the Maharashtra assembly poll, seeking further denouncement of the state's ruling Congress-NCP combine that he said is corrupt.
The country cannot be free from the Congress if the Congress is not wiped out in Maharashtra, he said. The Congress and NCP were routed in the state by the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance during this year's Lok Sabha elections, and Shah is seeking to better the performance in the assembly polls.

Maharashtra, which was an example of good governance for other states, is today lagging behind in all aspects, Shah said, even as he accused the Congress and NCP of looting Rs11.88 lakh crore in the past 15 years of their rule. “Where has this money gone? If you follow the money trail, then you will come to know that this money has gone into the pockets of the Congress ministers, their children and relatives like their nephews,“ the BJP chief alleged.

Shah said that while the Congress is perplexed, over whether to get Priyanka Vadra or Rahul Gandhi to lead the party, the BJP is thinking of forming the next government in Maharashtra.The Congress should not just be routed in the state, but also plead for the opposition leader's post in Maharashtra, he said, addressing B J P workers at Mu mbai 's Shanmukhananda Hall.

The BJP chief pointed out the difference between the earlier governments and the Narendra Modi government, saying that the new government dared to cancel talks with the Pakistan government when it met with separatists.

“...we didn't think what the US will say or what Pakistan will think.For us, the pride and honour and the safety of our country are more important,“ he said. On the stalled World Trade Organisation trade talks, he said the government's stand was that it won't sacrifice the Indian farmers for a trade deal to happen.

Drawing a strange parallel on the drought being faced in Maharashtra with that of a bad leadership, Shah said Gujarat had not faced a drought in the 12 years when Modi was the chief minister.“However, in Maharashtra, last 15 years have seen five droughts, which shows that when a ruler is not the right one, even God doesn't help you out.“

Pointing out the number of Congress and NCP workers who joined the BJP, and inviting more, Shah said: “Our hearts are big, our doors are open for you. We will welcome all good people who want to join the party."