Rahul can't see change due to his 'Italian spectacles': Shah

Taunting Rahul Gandhi for seeking a report card from the NDA government, BJP President Amit Shah today said 'Rahulbaba' cannot see the changes due to his "Italian spectacles" and should first explain the alleged scams worth Rs 12 lakh crore during UPA rule.

Shah said the report card of the NDA government was very long and the "biggest achievement" was that there was not a single allegation of corruption against the BJP government.

In a pep-talk with state BJP workers at Vyara town of Tapi district in south Gujarat, Shah also said that though the situation on India-Pakistan border has "changed" after Modi took over, Gandhi, whom he referred as "Rahulbaba", could not see it due to the "Italian spectacles" he is wearing.

"Few days back, Rahulbaba said in his speech that what Modi government did in its two-and-half years of tenure. Rahulbaba, I am having that report card, but I don't want to share with you because it is very long. The biggest achievement is that you cannot level a single allegation of corruption against the BJP government," he said.

"People remember that scams worth Rs 12 lakh crore emerged during the 10 years of past Congress rule. Rahulbaba, don't ask for our report card, because people have been asking you about what happened to that money? You first need to give explanation to the people of where that money has gone," the senior BJP leader said.

Addressing a large gathering of cheering party workers from all over south Gujarat region, Shah further demanded Congress's report card in Gujarat, where it was in power for almost 40 years before the BJP took over in 1995.

"You ruled Gujarat for almost 40 years. So, I want to ask you today what Congress did here for these many years? Did you give 24-hour electricity or drinking water? It was Modi (as CM) who did all this. Congress only gave curfews, as communal clashes used to take place almost every day. We gave curfew-free regime," the BJP president asserted.

Shah also mentioned the issue of cross-border firing, saying the Indian Army is giving a fitting reply to Pakistan after Modi took over as PM.

"Rahulababa says that firing still takes place on the border. I want to tell him that situation has changed. But, Rahulbaba could not see the difference, as he is wearing Italian spectacles," he said hinting at Congress president Sonia Gandhi's Italian lineage.

Shah said, "Though it is true that Pakistan is still doing it, there is a difference now. During past Congress rule, Pakistan used to start and end the firing. But today, though Pakistan starts it, it is we who end it. For each bullet they fire, Indian Army replies with a shell. That is the difference."

As Gujarat would go for Assembly polls next year, he urged the party workers to reach out to each and every household to campaign for BJP.

To boost the morale of party workers and to make them understand the importance of the 2017 state elections, Shah said the outcome of the polls would become the base for the party's win in the general elections of 2019.

"I want to tell you that Congress is only day-dreaming of acquiring power in the state. Our workers must have confidence that just like Gujarat got the credit for BJP's victory in 2014 general elections, we will prepare the base for 2019 by making BJP victorious here in 2017," he said.

Shah was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, state BJP president Jitu Vaghani and several other key leaders and state ministers.

Later in the evening, Shah is scheduled to attend a grand event in Surat where prominent Patel businessmen will felicitate BJP leaders of the community.