Amit Shah Targets Congress and Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad Rally Over Electoral Rolls and Corruption
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi during the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Maha Padayatra in Hyderabad on Monday. Addressing party workers and supporters, Shah accused the opposition of protecting infiltrators, indulging in vote-bank politics, and spreading misinformation regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Speaking at the rally organized under the slogan 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy), Shah called upon the public to bring down the Congress government in Telangana and elect the BJP to power in the state. Recalling the historic contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he noted that Hyderabad State would not have been liberated without Patel’s intervention.
Controversy Over Electoral Roll Revision
Targeting the Congress’s 'Vote Bachao' campaign, Shah asserted that it was an attempt to protect infiltrators rather than save votes. He countered allegations made by the Congress that 13 crore votes had been deleted from electoral rolls, stating that approximately 6.5 crore belonged to people who had relocated, while 3 crore belonged to deceased individuals. He questioned whether the names of deceased persons should remain on the rolls.
Shah further alleged that Congress and the INDIA bloc were opposing the SIR exercise to turn illegal Bangladesh immigrants into a vote bank. He stated that neither Rahul Gandhi nor Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy would be allowed to secure voting rights for infiltrators, asserting that Gandhi was opposing the deletion of votes belonging to three crore infiltrators.
Defense of SIR and Challenge on EVMs
Defending the SIR process, Shah pointed out that the BJP won three consecutive terms at the Centre and secured victories in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam prior to the current exercise. He questioned the logic behind Congress blaming Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) whenever it faces defeat, while accepting electoral victories in states such as Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Using the Telugu expression 'Aadaleka Maddela Odu' to describe blaming the drum for an inability to perform, Shah challenged the Congress to a debate in Parliament regarding SIR and EVMs. He added that Rahul Gandhi would never become the Prime Minister of India except in a mock Parliament.
Allegations of Corruption
Shah accused the previous Congress-led Central government of being involved in corruption worth Rs 12 lakh crore during its ten years in power. Turning his focus to the local administration in Telangana, he accused the state government of collecting 'RR Tax' and 'Rahul-Revanth Tax', while claiming that state Congress governments across the country have failed to deliver on their promises.
In contrast, Shah stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed 12 years in office without a single stain of corruption, asserting that the BJP will continue its political rise in Telangana and across the nation.
Schedule and Route of the Visit
Shah arrived at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad on Monday afternoon, where he was received by Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy and other senior state BJP leaders. Prior to joining the padayatra, he visited the Sri Bhagyalakshmi Ammavari Temple near the historic Charminar to offer prayers.
The padayatra commenced from the statue of Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram opposite Nizam College in Basheerbagh, moved through Abids, and concluded at Mozamjahi Market, where Shah delivered his address to the gathered crowd.
