New Delhi: Never before during his eight years in power, had Home Minister Amit Shah made any such allegations that he was pressured by the Central probe agency during the Congress-led UPA government to frame Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an alleged fake encounter case in Gujarat.
While addressing questions on the opposition parties' allegations that the Modi government is targeting their leaders using central agencies at the 'News 18 Rising India' program, Home Minister Shah said that even though he was pressured by the CBI to frame PM Modi in the case, the BJP did not protest against it.
This is the first time Home Minister Amit Shah has made such an allegation publicly ever since the BJP came to power.
Amit Shah also questioned the hue and cry of the opposition parties over the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha due to his conviction by a court. Instead of approaching a higher court to fight his case, the Congress seems to have engaged in blaming PM Modi for Rahul Gandhi's removal, he said.
"Several prominent leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav, J Jayalalitha, and Raashid Alvi also lost their memberships," Shah said, adding that no one protested for the loss of their membership during the UPA's time.
Shah also alleged that it was Rahul Gandhi's arrogance that he did not approach a court to have his conviction suspended. He added that it was not the Modi government who disqualified Rahul Gandhi, but it was done in accordance with the Supreme Court's order.
During the interview, the Home Minister was asked about Rahul Gandhi's recent comment on Veer Savarkar. In response, Shah stated that Savarkar was the only freedom fighter who was sentenced to two life terms in the Andaman prison, and criticized the use of such language towards him.
Shah also advised Gandhi to read his grandmother's speech on Savarkar and claimed that even members of Gandhi's own party have advised him not to speak against Savarkar. Looking towards the future, Shah confidently predicted that in the 2024 general election, Modi would be elected as Prime Minister again with an even larger majority.
He also stated that the BJP would secure more seats in 2024 than they did in the 2019 election, and noted that there was a lack of unity among the opposition parties.