Modi rule free of scams, says Amit Shah

PUDUCHERRY: The BJP national chief Amit Shah, who commenced his visit to the Union Territory on Monday in style by paying floral tributes to the national poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharati, said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has given “decisive and corruption-free governance to the nation”. This, he said is a remarkable feat, which none had achieved in the last half a century.

Reminding everyone that the present situation in the country was far different and superior compared to what had prevailed in India during the previous decade of Congress rule, he said “not even the opposition has been able to level any charge of corruption on the Modi government in the last three years of rule.” “I am proud to say that India has become the fastest growing economy in the world,” he said while addressing a meeting of intellectuals at a hotel here. Mr Amit Shah said, “The people of India were not happy with the situation in the country before 2014. After Mr. Modi took over, things changed and the country transformed.”  On the development front, the Modi government has built crores of toilets in the last three years.

A "complete evaluation" of the BJP rule shows that it is nonpareil in delivering good governance and ensuring developmental programmes. "During the Congress rule, there were scams after scams… the youth were disgruntled but now the situation has transformed," the BJP chief who arrived on a two-day visit here as part of his 110-day nationwide tour to strengthen the party, added.

Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and party's national secretary H. Raja were among those who accompanied him during his visit to Puducherry and the party's programmes. This is Mr. Shah's second visit to the Union Territory after assuming charge of the party as national chief. Subramania Bharati made impact on entire nation: Garlanding a statue of the Tamil poet Subramania Bharathi near the Raj Nivas, Mr. Shah showered rich praise on the freedom fighter. "Subramania Bharati, as a social reformer, had made great impact not only on the Tamil society but also on the entire nation and humanity. He troubled the British government as they realised it was his writings that filled the Tamil youth with the spirit of patriotism," he said.

His songs on nationalism and freedom of India helped to rally the masses in support of Independence movement in Tamil Nadu, said Mr. Shah who later attended a meeting of office bearers of the party's Puducherry unit. Rangasamy meets Amit Shah: Opposition AINRC leader and former CM N. Rangasamy, whose party has already announced support to the NDA's Presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind, led a team of party legislators and met Mr. Shah at the hotel.  Though AINRC has eight members in the Assembly only five, including Mr. Rangasamy, met the BJP leader. The meeting was described as "courtesy call." Three of the four AIADMK (Amma) faction MLAs led by A. Anbalagan and AIADMK MP from Puducherry N. Gokulakrishnan also met the BJP chief. Earlier, on his arrival here, a huge rally was taken out by party cadres through important thoroughfares from the airport to the town.