Kanker: BJP president Amit Shah on Friday blamed the Congress for “establishing relationships” with the naxalites in Chhattisgarh. He also lauded the efforts of chief minister Raman Singh in creating a pathway for development of the insurgency-hit area. 

“We created pathways for development in insurgency-hit areas of the state, while the Congress made relationships with the naxalites. Coming out from the clutches of naxalism, Chhattisgarh, led by Raman Singh, is moving on the path of development,” said Shah while addressing a rally during the conclusion of Atal Vikas Yatra in insurgency-hit Kanker district.

Shah said that it was a testing time for Chhattisgarh before the BJP was voted to power and the party had ushered in a new era. Singh brought the state, which was reeling under terrorism, poverty and other crises, on the path of development. 

“We have decided to contest the upcoming Assembly election in Chhattisgarh under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Raman Singh. However, I want to ask Rahul Gandhi under whose leadership will Congress contest the election? The shameless people who distribute CDs and develop fake CDs?” Shah added. 

Shah was referring to the Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel’s sex CD scandal, which recently rocked the state. 

“We do not practise the politics of cleverness; instead we do politics of character, politics of development,” said Shah.

“I want to challenge the Congress with the work done by chief minister Raman Singh in 15 years and Prime Minister Narendra Modi five years. The BJP is ready to have a discussion on this at any point, at any place,” Shah added.

“The Singh-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh has assured electricity in every village across the state. Under the leadership of Singh, the BJP has covered a very long distance of 11,000 km in the state (to interact with the people) and there are very few chief ministers who cover such a long distance to interact with public,” said the BJP president.

Shah added that this is only possible when a chief minister showcases courage to come before public even after a tenure of 15 years and this could be witnessed under the BJP regime.

With the blessing of public, Singh is going to form government in the state for fourth time, said Shah.  

“When Chhattisgarh came to existence, it was a ‘Bimaru’ (ailing) state and the Congress did not make any effort for development of the state,” charged Shah.

The BJP president noted that Singh has done the task of grooming and developing Chhattisgarh formed by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
 
With inputs from Sandeep Pradhan