Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused the ruling Congress in Rajasthan of organising riots, stopping Hindu festivals, and indulging in appeasement politics with an eye on the next State Assembly election. Mr. Shah also took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, saying he needed to study the country’s history first.
Addressing a meeting of the BJP’s booth-level workers in Jodhpur, Mr. Shah said the Congress had organised “well-planned” communal riots at places like Karauli, Jodhpur, Chhabra and Malpura, and put a ban on the celebration of Hindu festivals. “This vote bank politics will spell doom for Congress. The people in Rajasthan are ready to bring the BJP back to power,” he said.
Mr. Shah said the people could not tolerate the brutal murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur and the demolition of a 300-year-old temple in Alwar. “I want to tell Ashok Gehlot- ji that if you cannot handle the State’s affairs, then please step down,” Mr. Shah said the Chief Minister’s home turf.
