UPA govt was being run from Italy: Amit Shah

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that if the BJP wins in Assam, the state government will be run by the RSS from Nagpur, party chief Amit Shah on Thursday said the previous UPA government at the Centre was being run from Italy. “Gandhi says if the BJP forms government in Assam, it will be run by the RSS from Nagpur... What about 10 years of the UPA government which was being run from Italy ” Mr Shah said during his two election rallies in the Barak Valley.

Attacking Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Mr Shah said her speech while canvassing for the Assam Assembly polls that her party would ensure the state’s development amused him.

“What were they doing for the last 15 years when her party was in power in the state and at the Centre for 10 years ” he asked.

He accused chief minister Tarun Gogoi of failing to stop infiltration from Bangladesh and Assam from “emerging as the number one state in corruption.

Tea, oil and mineral-rich Assam saw no development as Mr Gogoi “kept the doors of the border open for infiltrators”, he said.

The BJP, Mr Shah said, is committed to resolve the problem of infiltration and will also give protection to refugees who have left their homes in Bangladesh following religious persecution. “The BJP government has already passed an ordinance but it will not be Assam’s responsibility alone to take in refugees. The entire country will share the burden.”

Criticising the Chief Minister, he said, “Has Gogoi babu ensured development of roads, education, health, women’s security He did nothing for the last 15 years but only indulged in corruption.