Making a scathing attack on the previous Congress-led governments in the Centre for their abject failure to alleviate poverty, Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has done more good for the country’s Poor in the last nine years than the combination of the previous four-generation Congress regime in the Centre.

Speaking at a rally at Nanded in Maharashtra as a part of BJP’s outreach programme on the completion of nine years of the Modi Ji-led NDA government, Shah said the Poor never got their basic needs such as housing units, toilets, cooking gas and others during the reign of the Gandhi family. Congress only perpetuated poverty.

“The last 9 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji-led government are the years of India’s pride, of India’s development and of India ensuring the welfare of the Poor. It was only after Sonia-Manmohan rule ended and Modi Ji took command that India made progress and ensured development,” Shah said.

The 10-year Sonia-Manmohan reign was the most corrupt. Their unbridled corruption was of the magnitude of Rs 12 lakh crore. On the other hand, even the Opposition has never had the occasion to label any corruption charge against the Modi Ji-led current dispensation in the last nine years.

Under the regime of Modi Ji, there had been an overall improvement in all spheres – economy, security, defence, technology and so on. Modi Ji has taken the country to a new height. He has himself positioned as a world leader who is respected by all across the world.

Shah also attacked former Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for maligning the country’s image outside over the remarks he made during his recent US visit and said the countrymen would never forget his abominable act. The people of Nanded and Maharashtra would give a fitting reply, ensuring more than 45

seats in the 2024 general election in favour of the BJP.

The principal poll strategist of the BJP, Shah also trained his gun on Udhvav Thackaery. “In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray at a meeting had agreed that if NDA was voted to power, Devendra Fadnavis will be CM. But for power and the post of the Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray went and sided with Congress-NCP,” Shah said.

Shah further attacked Uddhav Thackeray with a barrage of questions. “We want Uddhav Thackeray to clarify his party’s stand on Common Civil Code. Does he subscribe to Congress’s anti-Veer Savarkar stand? Can Uddhav Thackeray supports the renaming of Aurangabad, Osmanabad and Ahmednagar after siding with Congress and NCP. Does he support Muslim reservation which is against Constitution?”

“Do you want Narendra Modi Ji or Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister?” Shah asked thousands of supporters who attended the rally braving a hit and humid weather. They roared back with “Modi, Modi” chanting.

Before speaking at the rally, Shah offered prayers at Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Gurudwara.

Earlier in the day, Shah addressed a rally in Gujarat’s Patan. Lambasting Rahul Gandhi there also, he said, “Rahul Baba is going abroad on a vacation to escape the summer heat. He keeps criticising the country there. I would like to suggest Rahul Gandhi to learn from his ancestors.”

“Any patriotic person should discuss Indian politics within India. It does not suit the leader of any party to go abroad and discuss the country’s politics and criticise the country. Rahul Baba, you must remember that the people of the country are watching it closely,” Shah said. (ends)