Rajasthan: Shah takes on Rahul for questioning PM Modi on development

Ahead of the upcoming legislative polls in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Thursday criticised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi on development issue in the BJP-ruled state, Rajasthan.

Addressing a public rally in the Karauli town in the state, Shah said, "I have brought farmers with me. Tell them what the Congress party did with Rs 1 Lakh 9 thousand crores taken from the Centre for farmers during their rule in Rajasthan?"

Comparing the efforts of farmers' upliftment by his party with that of the Congress, Shah claimed, "Our party provided Rs 2 Lakh 65 thousand for farmers' fund. Apart from these, Rs 36,000 crore were given through various schemes."

Stressing on the funds allocated by the Modi government for development in various sectors, Shah informed the people gathered at the rally that it was his party, which always invested money in different sectors, including "Rs 30,000 crores for Mudra Bank, Rs 409 crores for Swachh Bharat mission, Rs 2,400 crore for educational institutions for tribal children and Rs 220 crore for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY)."

He further praised Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for providing and implementing the funds given by the Centre in a right way, including "Rs 43 lakh for Ujjwala Scheme, Rs 50 lakh for Mudra Yojna, Rs 13 lakh for Awas Yojna and distribution of mobiles to 50 lakh women in the state".

The BJP president also emphasised on various schemes implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, which helped in the development of Rajasthan, such as providing "LPG cylinders to 40 lakh women, 13 lakh houses to people, smart kitchens under Annapurna scheme and loan waivers to around 74,000 state farmers".

Shah also touched upon surgical strikes, which India carried out against terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2016. "Earlier, anyone would enter from Pakistan to spread violence in India. When terrorists attacked the Uri Army camp, it was the Modi government, which carried out surgical strikes."

The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is scheduled to go to polls on December 7 and counting of votes will take place on December 11.