INDIA Bloc Leaders Will ‘Scramble’ For PM Seat If It Comes To Power By ‘Mistake’: Amit Shah In Bihar

Amit Shah claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term at the office was all but certain, and warned against "political instability" which may follow if the INDIA bloc manages to form a government “even by mistake”.

Lok Sabha Election 2024: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Monday launched a scathing attack on the INDIA bloc, claiming that there will be a scramble among its top leaders for the prime minister’s post, if the opposition grouping comes to power “even by mistake”.

Asserting that the country needs a “strong” leadership and not a “helpless” one, Amit Shah claimed that top leaders of the INDIA bloc such as M K Stalin, Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad and Mamata Banerjee, may take turns as the Prime Minister for a year each, leaving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to settle for whatever is left (of the tenure).

“Rahul baba (Rahul Gandhi) will have to settle for whatever is left of the tenure,” Shah said.

‘Modi’s 3rd term certain, anarchy if INDIA bloc wins by mistake’

The Home Minister claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term at the office was all but certain, and warned against “political instability” which may follow if the INDIA bloc manages to form a government “even by mistake”.

“We need a leadership that is strong and not helpless. If the INDIA alliance comes to power… M K Stalin, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, Lalu Prasad, all of them may become PM for a year each. Rahul baba will settle for whatever is left of the tenure,” Shah claimed.

Conversely, Shah asserted,“a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead to elimination of corruption from the entire country, including Bihar, and eradication of casteism in the state”.

INDIA bloc leaders will scramble for PM post

Sharpening his attack on the opposition bloc, Shah asked if the INDIA grouping has decided who will be the prime minister in case they win by “mistake”.

“Modi’s return to power is certain. But, suppose, even by mistake, if the INDIA alliance comes to power, what will happen? Who will be the prime minister? Will it be Stalin, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee or Rahul Gandhi? They will all settle for sharing the top post for a year each. Is it how the country can be run?” asked.

‘Cong cradled Art 370, will restore triple talaq’

The BJP veteran, who addressed election rallies in Jhanjharpur and Begusarai Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar, also charged the opposition bloc with seeking restoration of triple talaq.

“Should we have triple talaq? INDI alliance leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Prasad say they will protect Muslim Personal Law. They should forget their plans. The BJP government will implement a Uniform Civil Code across the country,” Shah asserted.

Amit Shah, who is often credited with abrogation of Article 370, also accused the Congress and its allies with having protected special status to Jammu and Kashmir like an “auras Putra” (one’s own offspring).

“Rahul Gandhi had tried to scare us by claiming that scrapping Article 370 will cause rivers of blood to flow. But, when the Modi government made the move, nobody even dared to throw a pebble,” said Shah.

‘Congress always been anti-OBC’

Slamming Gandhi for his “new-found concern for OBCs”, the home minister said “the Congress party has always been against the Other Backward Classes. It had opposed the Mandal Commission. Modi has emerged from among the OBCs and the community has been empowered during his tenure as never before”.

He also showered encomiums on Modi for abrogation of Article 370 and strong counter-terrorism steps like surgical strikes in contrast with the previous Congress-led UPA regime, “when for 10 years, terrorists struck at will”.

All corrupt people must be jailed

Attacking the opposition for alleging misuse of central agencies, Shah said, “Should there be no action against the corrupt? Whoever is found guilty of swindling money meant for the poor people of the country, must be in jail”.

Shah also said the opposition camp had neither leaders nor resolve, alleging “Sonia Gandhi’s sole concern is making her son the prime minister, while Lalu Prasad wants to make his son the chief minister of Bihar”.

The Home Minister alleged that the Congress and the RJD supremo did not give due respect to former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur, but the BJP recognised his contribution and conferred the Bharat Ratna on him.

In Begusarai, where Union minister Giriraj Singh seeks to retain the seat for BJP, Shah mockingly referred to main rival CPI as “laal bhai” and urged the people to vote for the sitting MP “in huge numbers so that the next time they do not muster the courage to enter the fray”.

(With inputs from agencies)