People will punish corrupt Congress in 2014: Amit Shah

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress for its "corruption", BJP general secretary and in charge of Uttar Pradesh Amit Shah Thursday warned that the people of the country would punish it in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Interacting with reporters on his second and last day of his maiden visit to the state, Shah accused the Congress of swindling Rs.12 lakh crore of public money through various scams.

Rubbishing charges levelled by Congress and Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to spread communal issues, Shah said on the contrary, it were these parties which were spreading communal hatred.

Shah also accused the SP government of endangering the security of the country by releasing people who are accused of terror acts.

He cautioned the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) that they would suffer huge political setbacks in the polls for "supporting a tainted and corrupt government".

Predicting a BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the centre in 2014, Shah said his interactions with party workers in the state have been very encouraging.

"Based on my talks with the committed workers of BJP, I am confident that the road to the Delhi throne for BJP will go from Lucknow only," he said.

He also assured party workers that he would be spending 20 days in a month in the state to strengthen the party.

Asked to comment on his alleged role in the staged killing of Sohrabuddin, Shah said he has been granted bail by the Supreme Court.

He blamed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for acting at the behest of the Congress to settle scores with political opponents.

Shah refuted media reports that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was contemplating to contest the Lok Sabha polls from any seat in Uttar Pradesh. "There has been no decision on this matter," he added.

On the resignation of veteran L.K. Advani from his party posts and subsequent reversal of decision, Shah said it was a closed chapter now.