Shah was addressing a key voters’ meet in Vrindavan in Mathura, which will go to polls on February 10. He visited the Banke Bihari temple and conducted a door-to-door campaign in Govardhan. Later, he addressed a similar meet in Greater Noida.
He spoke about the works done in improving the religious infrastructure of the holy district, including holding a grand Krishnotsav in Mathura and declaring sites within 10 km of the Shri Krishna janmbhoomi (birthplace) as pilgrimage sites as well as establishing the Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad. He spoke about paying maximum cane dues to sugarcane farmers as compared to the combined dues paid by the previous SP and BSP government in the ten years preceding 2017.
“This election of Uttar Pradesh should not be considered as one to choose an MLA or a minister or chief minister; the election will decide the fate of the country because it is the largest state with 22 crore voters… If the state is not developed, it hampers the growth of the nation,” Shah said.
“You will have to decide whether you want to choose a party or Uttar Pradesh and the country. If you want to choose UP and the country, then except for the BJP, nobody can keep it safe,” he said.
Shah said Azam Khan has so many cases that charges under the CrPC would fall short. He said the Yogi government has freed Rs 2,000 crore worth of land that had been illegally captured by the mafia. “Akhilesh should be ashamed of himself (chullu bhar paani mein doob jana chahiye) for raising questions on law and order. He doesn’t have the right,” Shah said, enumerating that there has been a 70% decrease in dacoity between the previous SP government and the current BJP government, 72% fall in looting, 29% fall in murder and 35% fall in kidnapping cases.
“There was a time when aalia, maalia, jamalia (from Pakistan) used to come and behead our soldiers. Under Modi ji’s government, when attacks took place in Uri and Pulwama, within ten days, surgical strikes and airstrikes were done. We barged into Pakistan and wiped out terrorists,” he said.
