Gandhinagar:

BJP president Amit Shah today participated in the Gujarat assembly proceedings in the capacity of party MLA from Naranpura seat of Ahmedabad and speaking in the house lambasted opposition Congress for its earlier ‘misrule’ during which even passage of safe rath yatra (ritual of chariot procession) of Lord Jagannath was not possible.

Shah was earlier accorded grand welcome on his arrival in the assembly premises by the workers, members and officer bearers of BJP and also by the Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, other ministers, Chief Whip Pankaj Desai and state BJP president cum mla Jeetu Vaghani.

The BJP workers made human chain and showered rose-petals on him and his vehicle while it moved from the main entrance of the premises to the assembly hall.

He entered the house at around 11 am after the recess. It was his first entry in the house after over 2 years as he had participated in the house proceedings last time on March 16, 2015 during sixth session. The current Budget session of the assembly that started on February 20 will end on March 31 ie tomorrow.

Shah, during his speech in the house on a resolution on development by the ruling party, lambasted main opposition Congress for its misrule in the state in the past prior to 1995.

He said that every one knows the situation of Gujarat prior to 1995 when riots were the order of the day. Electricity was a rarity. Law and order was at its worst. Even the safe passage of Rath Yatra was not possible in those days. The BJP president remembered notorious bootlegger Latif and his dread during the then Congress rule in his speech. Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi lavishly, Shah said that Gujarat has seen all round development during his long rule as chief minister of Gujarat. He said that the children of Gujarat don’t know as to what the word curfew meant after Modi’s rule.

Claiming that BJP will win overwhelmingly in the coming election Shah said that the journey of development started in Modi’s rule will continue and the house will witness it in its next assembly also.

CM Rupani later told newsmen that Shah during his speech on the resolution on development gave guidance to the party and the government with his vast experience.

Earlier, Congress had raised the issue of tabling of Justice M B Shah commission (a commission constituted by Modi as the then CM to probe in to allegations of corruption against his government) report in the house and created uproar. Around 20 MLA’s of the party were suspended from the house for the first half by the speaker when they refused to move out of the well of the house. Other Cong MLA’s also walked out from the house. At that time BJP president Shah had not made entry in to the house.

The Angry members of Congress boycotted and did not participate in the lunch organized by assembly speaker Ramanlal Vora on the fourth floor of the assembly building. The lunch was attended by Shah, CM Rupani, ministers and BJP MLA’s.

Shah, however, had a meeting with leader of opposition Shankersinh Vaghela in his chamber in the assembly. Shah, accompanied by Rupani, Vaghani and minister of state for home and parliamentary affairs Pradipsinh Jadeja spent around 15 minutes with the veteran Congress leader who once was a part of BJP.

Vaghela later told newsmen that it was just a formal courtesy meeting. ‘No other political meaning should be read in this meet. It is a courtesy meet like the ones of the meeting between Modi and Manmohan Singh,’ he said.
CM Rupani also termed it a courtesy visit.

Talking about M B Shah report Vaghela earlier said that BJP should make it clear whether it wishes to table it in the house or not. ‘If it refuses to table it, we would presume that the charges of corruption leveled against the then CM Modi were correct,’ he said.

Dy CM Nitin Patel on the other hand said that opposition can’t decide the course of the proceedings of the house. ‘The high court has already rejected a plea of former CM Suresh Mehta in this regard,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Shah, who arrived Gujarat yesterday on a three visit, his first to his home-state after the spectacular win in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand elections, will also participate in various meetings with the party workers at BJP state HQ SriKamalam at Koba near here. He will participate in a few events in his constituency also.

Later in the evening, Shah will also participate in a dinner at Vaghani’s place. He will leave for Delhi tomorrow.

On the other hand, the state government on the penultimate day of the assembly had also made some popular announcements as well. Dy CM Nitin Patel said that the decisions included increasing the daily wages of Home guards from Rs 200 to 300. The wages of Asha workers have also been increased. The two announcement will put a burden of Rs 37 crore and Rs 25-30 crore respectively. The government has also decided to increase the wages of assassinate professors and give tax relief to transport sector.

The visit of Shah has assumed special importance in the wake of this year being the year of assembly poll in Gujarat. It is due to be held by December.

DeshGujarat