BJP president Amit Shah today tore into Congress over disruptions in Parliament and asked the opposition party to desist from using Parliament as a platform to settle "political scores" instead of a forum to discuss issues concerning development of country.
"If you want to play politics, choose a state (for electoral fight). BJP is ready to pick up the challenge," Shah said, addressing a huge public meeting organised by the state BJP unit in the Arts College grounds here this evening.
"Is Parliament for debates or slogan-shouting? Is it for development or to settle political scores," the BJP chief said.
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"If you have to settle political scores, jump into the electoral battlefield. BJP workers don't fear anyone. Do do haath kar lenge (lets fight)," Shah said.
He asked Congress to let Parliament be a forum for development, "one that leads the country on the path to progress".
"Let Parliament be a forum that enhances the country's prestige," Shah added.
Lashing out in particular at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for calling the sloganeering in JNU as "freedom of speech", Shah asked the crowd could slogans like "Bharat tere tukde honge...Bharat teri barbaadi tak jung jaari rahegi..." be called freedom of speech.
"Is it freedom of speech or anti-national," he asked.
"One of the biggest achievements of the NDA government was to fully secure the borders of the country. Today, no one can dare to behead our soldiers (on the borders) and carry them away. They know it is Narendra Modi government...NDA government...That is ruling India," the BJP chief said.
Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu, AP state unit BJP president and MP Kambhampati Hari Babu, former Union minister Daggubati Purandeswari and others were present.
"BJP is in politics for a different purpose...Our
leadership in the past decided to leave power but not our principles," Shah said.
The Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the BJP were founded to provide an alternative political ideology to the country as the policies started by first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru were not in the interest of the country and were influenced by western thoughts, he said.
He also referred to the times when Jan Sangh merged with Janata Party for "saving democracy" in the country after Emergency and how its leadership quit power for their ideology and principles and did not think twice to give away power and form BJP this day in 1980.
Shah expressed satisfaction with the party's growth to "11 crore members" and asked party workers to ensure that these people turn into active members in the party to ensure that "BJP's graph rises the same way as it is rising now".
He also asked them to take initiatives of the government to the common man, especially poor, and utilise this power to help improve their lives.
"When the party is in power, a sense of lethargy sets in. But it is the duty of the organiser to take the government's policies to the people and bring the problems of people to the government.
"Our government has enumerated schemes for the downtrodden to reach out to the poorest of the poor and take the country forward. BJP workers should try and light a lamp in the lives of the poorest by ensuring they benefit from such schemes and take their problems to the government," he asked workers.
He also urged party workers to help in the government schemes, especially the 'Namami Gange', 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' and 'Toilet in every household' schemes.
He noted that the BJP-led central government is moving forward while keeping the principle of 'Ekatm Manav vad' (Integral Humanism) as its central point and believed in 'Sabka saath, Sabka vikas'.
"Narendra Modi is the world's most popular leader. There is no doubt about that. For the first time there is a government at the Centre that is making policies and taking decisions for the welfare of the poor and deprived," he said
Shah also asked partymen to strengthen booth-level units and keep them alive and activated "as the strength of the party lies in the polling booth".
