BJP chief equates oppn parties to snakes, dogs

BJP president Amit Shah today made stinging remarks against the opposition parties trying to unite to take on the BJP in next year's Lok Sabha polls by equating them to 'snakes', 'mongoose', 'dogs' and 'cats'.

Later, he said his intention was not to equate Opposition parties to animals.

Addressing a rally here, he also asserted that the Modi government will not scrap the reservation policy nor allow anyone else to do so.

"The countdown for 2019 (polls) has begun. Attempts are being made for opposition unity. When huge floods occur, everything is washed away. Only a 'vatvriksha (banyan tree) survives and snakes, mongoose, dogs, cats and other animals climb out to save themselves from the rising waters.

"Due to Modi flood, all cats, dogs, snakes and mongoose are getting together to contest polls," Shah said.

He was apparently referring to the efforts being made by various parties like the TRS, the Trinamool Congress and the TDP to sew up a coalition to take on the Modi-led BJP in the next general elections.

Later, addressing a press conference, Shah said, "What I meant was political parties having no ideological similarities are coming together out of fear of Modi."
Earlier, in his address at the rally on the occasion of the BJP's 38th Foundation Day, Shah expressed confidence that the BJP will win the 2019 polls, "not by giving hollow assurances but on the basis of work done by the Modi government."
He went on to add, "Rahul and (NCP chief Sharad) Pawar, listen. BJP will never end the reservation policy. And even if you want to end the reservation, BJP will never allow it."
Slamming the Congress president, he said, "When we lost two Lok Sabha seats (in UP) recently, Rahul baba distributed sweets. We only lost the polls, while his party forfeited the deposit. He (Rahul) is the first leader I have seen who distributed sweets after his party forfeited deposit in the polls."
On the Parliament session being washed out, Shah said, "We were ready to address all issues in the Parliament. It was the Opposition that disrupted the proceedings."