Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday said that incidents of communal violence were once commonplace in Gujarat because anti-social elements, supported by the Congress, indulged in such activities, but the state is now experiencing a “permanent peace” with BJP in power.
Addressing a rally in Mahudha town of Kheda district in support of BJP candidates ahead of the next month’s Assembly elections, Shah alleged, “During the Congress rule in Gujarat (before 1995), communal riots were rampant. Congress used to incite people of different communities and castes to fight against each other. Through such riots, Congress had strengthened its vote bank and did injustice to a large section of the society.” Shah said that Gujarat witnessed riots in 2002 because perpetrators became habitual of indulging in violence due to the prolonged support they received from the Congress.
“We taught them (the Congress) a lesson for their misdeeds in the 2002 elections under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Gujarat has seen no curfews or communal riots between 2002 and 2022, and the people here live in permanent peace and prosperity,” he added.
The Union Home Minister alleged that in the 1990s during the Congress regime, Gujarat had become a landing port of RDX.
“In the last three decades, we have secured the borders of Gujarat and now even a sparrow will have to rethink twice before entering Gujarat,” he said.