Asserting that the Modi government had infused hope across all sectors with its "decisive" rule, BJP President Amit Shah today said it had laid a strong foundation in its two years and will fulfil all its promises before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
"In two years it has laid a strong foundation. In next three years a strong building of development will be raised. I am sure when we go the people again for votes in 2019, we would have fulfilled all our promises," he said.
Presenting the government's two-year report card at a press conference here, Shah also pitched the party's "good" performance in the Assembly polls as the people's mandate on rows over Rohith Vemula suicide and JNU issue and took on Congress, saying those who raised them are "nowhere".
Asked if the party had decided to put a stop to controversial issues like ones seen weeks ago over Rohith Vehumla's death and the JNU incident, he said, "People have already done it".
He noted that the assembly polls were held in the wake of these rows and targeted Congress. "Those who raised these issues are nowhere," he said, a reference to its poor show.
Referring to a number of assembly polls the party fought under him since it came to power, Shah said people put their stamp of approval on the central government's performance whenever they got a chance as he noted that it formed governments in five states for the first time and preformed better than earlier everywhere.
The Modi government had infused hope across all sectors after, he alleged, the UPA's 10-year-rule left behind empty treasury, policy paralysis, demoralised bureaucracy, despondent masses and a state of hopelessness.
The government has struck a balance between reforms and public welfare and got success, he said.
He cited a string of figures, including the highest ever urea and power production, highways construction, FDI inflow, forex reserve in 2015-16, besides pro-poor and farmers schemes to underline his point.
Starting tomorrow, 30 BJP teams, comprising ministers and party office-bearers, will travel across more than 200 destinations to hold events to publicise the government's "achievements".
"We have given a decisive government. A government that can take decisions and has the political will to execute them. After a long time, there is a government like this," he said, adding that it was also a responsive government and cited the NEET's ordinance as an example.
"Modi government has assumed power after the ten years rule of UPA in which scams and scandals ruled the roost. After two years in government, even our opponents have not been able to level any allegation of corruption on us," Shah said.
He also appealed to all parties to support legislations and measures related to the "agenda of nation's development".
Amid speculation over a reshuffle in the Union Council of Ministry, he said a decision in this regard will be taken later. When pressed on whether vacancy caused by the exit of Sarbananda Sonowal will be filled, he added that it will be done but date has not been decided.
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Shah also refused to be drawn into the row over party MP Subramanian Swamy's attack on RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and his demand that the economist be ousted from the post.
"On this issue, there is no need for the party to take a view," he said when asked about his opinion on the matter.
He also said BJP's struggle against Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal will continue and the decision to send Finance Minister Arun Jaitley should not be seen as a sign of political outreach to Trinamool Congress.
"We are only respecting the people's mandate by sending our ministers there. It does not mean we have quit our struggle. It will continue till we capture power in West Bengal," he said.
Asked about BJP ally Shiv Sena's criticism of Modi government, Shah quipped that it only showed that there was democracy in NDA.
Lauding Modi government, he said the world has begun to believe again that 21st century belongs to India after it had "given up" on the country during UPA's rule.
"We have launched a new initiative in every 15 days and executed it properly. It created a social movement with initiatives like Namami Gange, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Swachh Bharat," he said.
He said that during 15-day public outreach programmes, all Lok Sabha MPs will spend a night in each of the assembly segments in their constituencies while MLAs will spend a night in every block of their seats and hold interaction with the masses.
Talking about the government's priorities, he cited poverty elimination as one and claimed projects like Stand Up India, Start Up India, Skill India and Mudra loan scheme have helped over 5 crore people. "This is a very big success of Modi government," he said.
By 2019, the government will be able to provide free LPG connection to 6 crore poor families, he said, adding that 1.80 crore soil health cards among farmers had already been distributed against the overall target of 14 crore.
Asked about challenges facing different projects, he said the Prime Minister reviews these projects regularly.
The government has ended confusion over whether to give priority to rural or urban sector and struck a fine balance.
