Amit Shah continues to attack SP, BSP in Uttar Pradesh

Shah praised BSP founder Kanshi Ram as 'a man with a clear heart' but lashed out at Mayawati

Likening Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with 'Rahu' and 'Ketu', Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah today said the two parties could not usher in development in Uttar Pradesh.

"SP and BSP are like 'Rahu' and 'Ketu' which are eclipsing the development of the state. Uttar Pradesh's development is not possible in their regimes," he told a rally jointly organised by his party and Bharatiya Samaj Party here, claiming that development of the state would only be possible under BJP rule.

"The development 'rath' (chariot), which has started its journey in the country, gets stuck in Uttar Pradesh. The reason being the government here does not want benefits of development to reach the people," he said.

Referring to Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on the dais, Shah said even when he was not within the National Democratic Alliance fold during the 2014 general elections, BJP and its allies had managed to win 73 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh.

"Now, he is with us, so Mulayamji, what is on the cards," he asked in a veiled challenge to SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Highlighting various programmes launched by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, including Jan Dhan and Mudra Bank schemes, Shah pointed at the dearth of job opportunities in Uttar Pradesh.

"Whether you go to Gujarat or Maharashtra, you see a number of youths from Poorvanchal (eastern India) working there. They are forced to leave their families behind and go to other states. The country has prospered but not Uttar Pradesh," he said, adding, "whatever is sent to Uttar Pradesh, will not reach you."

Alleging that jobs were distributed on the basis of caste in the state, the BJP chief said, "We do not discriminate on the basis of caste and religion. Our motto is 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas'."

Shah praised BSP founder Kanshi Ram as "a man with a clear heart".

"But after him, Mayawati has turned BSP into a money-minting machine. If you want development, you have to dislodge SP and BSP who have taken turns to rule the state for 20 years," he said.

Taking a jibe at SP, Shah said "three-and-a-half" chief ministers were currently ruling the state.

"The first Chief Minister is Akhilesh (Yadav), then Netaji (Mulayam), his (Akhilesh's) two uncles and then Mohammad Azam Khan," he said and termed SP's recent merger with Quami Ekta Dal and the subsequent announcement to call it off a "drama".

"First an uncle (Akhilesh's uncle and state minister Shivpal Yadav) announced the merger with Mukhtar and Afzal. Later, Akhilesh said he was against it. If you expel elements like Mukhtar, a day will come when SP will become non-existent," he claimed.

Shah said there were great opportunities for development in Uttar Pradesh. "If you strengthen the arms of Modiji, I promise that within five years, we will lead the state to the number one position in terms of development," he said.