New Delhi, Jan 11 (UNI) The parts of Central Delhi on Friday turned saffron as an estimated 12,000 BJP leaders and delegates comprising state legislators and office bearers descended in the capital to take part in the two-day national convention wherein BJP chief Amit Shah went onto compare the 2019 elections with the third battle of Panipat between Marathas and the foreign invaders.
In his spirited presidential address, Mr Shah waxed eloquent on key political issues and slammed the Congress and 'Rahul babu team' and also Trinamool Congress even as he made a strong pitch for Ram Temple via 'constitutional route'.
Hundreds gathered at the spacious Ramlila ground raising slogans and party flags for a meet - which is being described as a strategy meet for the fast approaching general elections.
"We have said that through Constitutional route only Ram Mandir will be constructed. But Congress is not leaving a single chance to create hurdle," Mr Shah said amid chanting of Bharat Mata Ki Jai among the leaders and workers.
In this context, he referred the manner the Congress leader Kapil Sibal told the Supreme Court in 2017 that the case be deferred after 2019. "The Congress party needs to make its position crystal clear," Mr Shah said.
In presence of BJP patriarch L K Advani, prime minister Narendra Modi and senior ministers, Mr Shah was categorical in assertion saying, "We in the BJP want that a grand Ram Temple is constructed at the earliest and in a place where Lord Rama was born.....'is mein koi duidha nahi hae (there can be no doubt about it)".
VHP working president Alok Kumar welcomed Mr Shah's remarks at the crucial BJP meet made in presence of senior party leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"By his statement, he (Amit Shah) has not said that an Ordinance or a new law cannot come in Parliament," Mr Kumar said. VHP and RSS leadership have been mounting pressure on the Modi government for an Ordinance route to build a temple but Prime Minister in his new year's first media interview that the government will wait for the Supreme Court verdict.
The underlining of a roadmap for Ram Temple, the BJP strategists feel, will help the right wing party consolidate its core vote of upper castes in the Hindi-speaking states - where it suffered erosion of support base lately.
Near the venue scores of party workers including women were see carrying hoardings and posters and raising slogans.
"This time 12000 registrations were given and Delhi BJP is geared up for the mega event," said Delhi BJP leader Harsh Malhotra.
Heavy security arrangements were in place and BJP sources said a temporary PMO has been set up at the venue.
“Our victory is certain in 2019,” Mr Shah said in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others at the first day of two-day long National Convention here.
But he also preferred to caution the party colleagues of the outcome if things do not materialise according to plans: "The Marathas won 131 battles but lost one in Panipat and the impact was huge. India had to go through 200 years of slavery".
Directing his tirade against Congress vis-a-vis corruption, he said, "I want to assure the people of this country that this Chowkidar (Prime Minister Modi) will not spare any thief. We have such effective laws that we will catch and bring them back".
He ridiculed the talks about alliance between Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and said the saffron party will record yet another round of convincing victory in Uttar Pradesh.
"Our strength in UP (Lok Sabha seats ) may go up to 74 but never come down to 72," BJP national president said.
"Go to your voters with heads held high because he has not done anything wrong. People of India won’t be misled by Rahul’s allegations," Mr Shah said.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is also a former BJP national president, said anything can be said and debated about, but none can ever question the intent - "neet and neeti" - of Prime Minister Modi.
Moving a resolution on farmers' issue, Mr Singh said the Modi government has taken a number of steps to help farmers, double their income by 2022 and also to mitigate their grievances.
"Our Prime Minister will not hesitate to take all measures....We have taken a number of steps for farmers, but we are not satisfied with that. We will have to do a lot. Our Prime Minister is still not satisfied vis-a-vis the works done in the farm sector," Mr Rajnath Singh said.
The resolution on agriculture and farmers issues was seconded by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
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