Doesn't suit any leader to criticise the country abroad: Amit Shah jibe at Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Slamming Rahul Gandhi for "criticising India and discussing its internal politics" during his visits to foreign countries, Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the Congress leader needs to be aware that the people are watching him.
"Any patriotic person should discuss Indian politics within India. It does not suit the leader of any party to go abroad and discuss India's politics and criticise the country. Rahul baba, you must remember that people of the country are seeing it," Shah said, referring to Rahul's criticism of the Narendra Modi government during his recent tour of the United States. While interacting with members of the Indian diaspora, Rahul had had slammed the Modi government's policies, asserting that India was becoming a "Hindu Rashtra".
Shah characterised his comments as "unfortunate", suggesting the Congress leader ought to be "ashamed of himself".
Shah alleged Congress does not stop talking about anti-India things despite the country witnessing huge changes under the Modi government. "Rahul went abroad on a vacation to escape the summer heat and keeps criticising the country there. I would suggest Rahul to learn from his ancestors who always upheld the nation's dignity," he said, addressing a rally at Siddhpur town in Patan district of Gujarat, organised to mark nine years of the Modi government.
Shah also attacked Rahul over his criticism of the new Parliament building. "You opposed the new Parliament building and installation of 'Sengol', a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, there. The Sengol was to be installed by Jawaharlal Nehru. Prime Minister Modi did it because he (Nehru) did not, then why are you opposing it," he asked.
He went on to allege that the Congress leaders do not allow PM Modi to speak in Parliament and only keep opposing everything. "But the PM has started a new tradition of doing politics of development."
'10 years of Congress rule marked by corruption, economic downfall, terrorism'
Shah compared the 10 years of rule of "former PM Manmohan Singh and ex-Congress president Sonia Gandhi" with the present regime. "Comparing 10 years of Manmohan-Sonia to 10 years of Modi, one will find that the time of the Congress-led government were marked by corruption, mismanagement, economic downfall, terrorism and poor law and order situation. while the 10 years of the Modi government have been that of capable and safe digital India walking the path of social welfare," he said.
Praising PM Modi, Shah said the government worked towards improving the lives of Dalits, poor and tribal people. "It was under the leadership of PM Modi that a tribal woman became the President of the country for the first time," he said.
'Uddhav Thackeray betrayed BJP, sat in Congress-NCP's lap for CM's post'
At Nanded in neighbouring Maharashtra, Shah targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray for "betraying the BJP for the chief minister's post after the assembly elections in 2019 by joining hands with the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress".
Addressing a similar rally at Nanded as a part of the BJP's outreach campaign to mark the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government, Shah said the BJP didn't bring down the Thackeray-led MVA government last year, but the Shiv Sainiks who were tired of his policies and were not ready to go with the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar.
"I as (then) BJP president and (the then chief minister) Devendra Fadnavis had carried out negotiations in which Thackeray agreed that if the NDA emerged victorious, Fadnavis will be the chief minister (again). However, after the results (in 2019), Thackeray broke the promise and sat in the Congress-NCP's lap," Shah added.
The Shiv Sena (undivided) and the BJP contested the 2019 assembly polls together, but the former walked out of the alliance over the post of the chief minister.
Shah said the Shiv Sena, which is now headed by CM Eknath Shinde, has got back its bow and arrow and it has been decided who the real Shiv Sena is.
He dared Thackeray to make his stand clear on whether he agrees on abolishing the practise of triple talaq, construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uniform Civil Code and reservation for Muslims.
"You cannot stand on two stones. You will be exposed before the people of the state," Shah said in a swipe at Thackeray.
Shah said during the Covid-19 pandemic while Modi government was giving vaccines to countrymen, Thackeray did not go to office.
Thackeray had received flak for not going to office during the pandemic. In his revised autobiography released last month, NCP president Sharad Pawar said although the middle class liked Thackeray's Facebook Live during the pandemic, him going to Mantralaya (the state secretariat) just twice was difficult to fathom.