Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said target of 150-plus seats in Gujarat Assembly elections is very easy for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In an exclusive interview with ANI, the UP Chief Minister said, "The target of 150-plus is easy for the BJP as the development done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his stint as Gujarat Chief Minister is visible in the state."
He added, "Also, as the speedy manner in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadmap for Gujarat and other Indian states has been implemented, it has also boosted confidence of people."
The UP Chief Minster also said that per capita income in Gujarat has risen ten times in the last 20 years.
"In the last 20 years, per capita income in Gujarat has risen up to 10 times from Rs. 14,000 to Rs. 1,41,000. Gujarat's rate of development is highest in the country and it is frontrunner in the employment generation. The development and sense of security in Gujarat has become emulation for other Indian states," said Adityanath.
Commenting on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's visits to temples in Gujarat, Yogi Adityanath said, "Rahul has made himself a laughing stock by his childish and cheap publicity acts."
"I am surprised that it was Rahul's Congress party-led then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, who tried to demolish the Ram Setu but the Supreme Court had stayed it. In fact, the then Congress led Union Government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court and even termed Lord Ram and Lord Krishna as 'myth'. Now, when Rahul Gandhi visited Dwarkadhish Temple, then a question arises that whether his party's affidavit was right or is he right?" said Adityanath, and demanded, "I feel that Rahul should give clarification to nation on this issue".
The UP Chief Minister also said that if the tribals (adivasis) are out of country's mainstream, then only the Congress is responsible for it.
Replying to a question, Yogi Adityanath said, "Ram Temple is not an election issue for us, but a matter of belief. The matter is sub judice and we hope that the decision will be according to the public sentiments."
When asked that patidars and dalits are unhappy with the BJP led Vijay Rupani Gujarat government, Yogi Adityanath recounted how farmers are getting water from Sardar Sarovar Dam and availability of water in the entire Saurashtra region.
He claimed that not only patidars and dalits, but also farmers and all other sections of the society will extend support to the BJP.
Earlier in the day, Adityanath launched a scathing attack on the Congress by terming it as a "symbol of devastation".
Addressing a rally in Valsad, Adityanath censured Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over his allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"They (Congress) are not supporters of development, but of devastation. That is why when terrorists like Ishrat Jahan were killed by the security forces in Gujarat, then Rahul Gandhi came to support her. The Congress is not a symbol of development, but of devastation," said Adityanath.
He said that Rahul Gandhi was confusing the people of Gujarat during his election rallies.
"I have come here to apprise you about the reality of Gujarat's development as recently Congress' prince (Rahul Gandhi) had tried to confuse you. Today, those people are talking about development in Gujarat who never discussed about development in the country in last 70 years," said the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
Adityanath also said that Rahul Gandhi was talking about development of Gujarat when he himself hasn't developed his parliamentary constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
"When Gujarat witnessed heavy floods then Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah came here but Rahul Gandhi fled to Italy," said Adityanath.
Rahul Gandhi is eyeing to dethrone the ruling BJP in Gujarat. The last Congress government in Gujarat was led by Chhabildas Mehta from February 17, 1994 to March 13, 1995.
The 14th legislative assembly election in Gujarat is to be held by the end of 2017 as the term of 13th Assembly ends on January 22, 2018.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)