Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday took part in a road show here, as part of Karnataka BJP’s ‘Vijaya Sankalp Abhiyan’, in the run-up to the Assembly polls in the state, due by May.
Targeting the opposition Congress and JD(S) and accusing them of dynasty politics and corruption, he sought support for the BJP to form a government with full majority in Karnataka.
Shah took part in the road show on a specially decorated open vehicle, for over a km distance from Basavanna Devara Matha to Gali Mariyamma temple here, amid loud cheers and waving of BJP flags by large number of party supporters and workers gathered.
Shah was accompanied by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, party’s General secretary in-charge Arun Singh, state President Nalin Kumar Kateel, former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, along the road show.
People gathered along the stretch showered flower petals at the vehicle carrying the leaders at various places, as sound of beating of the drums, chants of “Modi Modi”, “Bharat Mata ki Jai” slogans reverberated.
Shah made a short address to the gathering at the end of the road show, during which he targeted opposition Congress and JD(S) for dynasty politics and corruption, and asked them to vote for BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls.
Listing out various “pro-people” programmes of the BJP government, he said, “Congress only does aarti of Gandhi family, and in JD(S) grandfather, son, grandson, their wives, grandson’s son everyone wants to contest polls…youths should tell, do they have a place in that party?”
Claiming that youth has a place only in BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, BJP government under Modi has taken the country’s pride to heights at the global level.
“Modi has worked for securing the country from terrorists, Modi has abrogated Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, along with that construction of Ram Mandi in Ayodhya,” Shah said, asking people to vote for BJP in the upcoming elections, to support it in forming a government with full majority, and to defeat the “parivarwadis” (dynasts) and corrupt.
The road show by BJP was aimed at attracting public support in favour of the party in Kundgol and neighbouring Assembly constituencies in Dharwad district, party sources said.
Congress’ Kusumavati Channabasappa Shivalli currently represents the Kundgol Assembly segment. She had won the seat in 2019 by-polls, after the seat fell vacant following the death of her husband and then sitting MLA C S Shivalli.
Shivalli had won the seat in 2013 and 2018 Assembly elections.
The gathering of massive crowds on the streets during the roadshow reiterates people’s faith in the BJP’s welfare-oriented governance in Karnataka.
ರೋಡ್ ಶೋ ವೇಳೆ ನೆರೆದಿರುವ ಅಪಾರ ಜನಸ್ತೋಮ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಆಡಳಿತದ ಮೇಲೆ ಜನರಿಗಿರುವ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿಬಿಂಬಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. pic.twitter.com/Rf5yxG6kWC
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 28, 2023
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Shah speaking at the platinum jubilee celebrations of B V Bhoomaraddi College and after inaugurating an indoor stadium at the campus had asked the youth to join hands in nation building and ensure that when the country celebrates its centenary year of independence in 2047, India is number one in every field.
He also called on the youth to take a resolve for progress in their personal lives and also to contribute towards nation building in some field, in this 75th year of independence.
“When we celebrate the centenary year of independence in 2047, in every field this great nation of ours should be number one. To build such a nation, you the youth must join hands on the appeal of PM Modi and contribute in building a great India,” Shah said.
He listed out progress made by the country in various fields and strong foundations laid by the government for development in a number of areas.
Asking students and youngsters to read about the freedom struggle and sacrifice made by the people for the country to attain independence, Shah said, “Everyone is not fortunate to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the country like our soldiers do. We may not sacrifice our lives for the country, but we can live our lives for the sake of this nation.”
Union Home Minister Shah at the platinum jubilee celebrations of B V Bhoomaraddi College, Belagavi, Karnataka on 28 January 2023. (Credit: PIB New Delhi)
The Union Home Minister also laid the foundation for an off-campus facility of National Forensic Sciences University at Dharwad on Saturday.
In his address, Shah stressed on the need to increase conviction rate in the country and to integrate the criminal justice system with forensic science-based investigation, in order to set right the law and order situation in India.
Highlighting that the country has been making strides in the field of forensic science, he said the country will have the largest number of forensic science experts in five years.
He said the crime world is changing at a fast pace whether it is related to fake currency, hawala transaction, infiltration at the border, narcotics, cybercrime, crime against women, criminals have gone far ahead than the police.
Further suggesting that for all such crime scenes of offences that will attract punishment of more than six years, the forensic science officer must reach first, the Union Minister complimented the Karnataka police for implementing it in urban areas, and said it will be helpful in crime detection and conviction.
