Puducherry, April 6 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday ridiculed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his claims about rising petrol and diesel prices, saying that was indeed the case in neighboring Pakistan.
Addressing a poll rally at the Mannadipet constituency here ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections, the senior BJP leader said that while the NDA on one side was keen to develop Puducherry, on the other side was the Congress leader, "who thinks Pakistan's petrol rates are that of India."
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has bucked international trends of fuel shortages, work-from-home orders, and "skyrocketing prices," and the central government has ensured the availability of petroleum products amidst the West Asia conflict, while the rates remain unchanged, he said.
Shah said that Rahul Gandhi, at a recent public meeting in this union territory, had said that "due to the Gulf War, petrol prices have gone up in India."
"He is right. Petrol costs Rs 458, while diesel has gone up to Rs 520. But Rahul baba, that has happened not in India, but Pakistan," Shah said.
On the contrary, prices have been stable in the country, and there is no shortage of petroleum products, he added.
Recently, after an unprecedented surge in fuel prices triggered severe backlash, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced slashing the petrol price.
Taking a dig at the opposition INDIA bloc, Shah said that the CPI, CPI (M) have already left the alliance, while the DMK and Congress were fighting each other in five seats in the polls. The NDA, on the other hand, was united, he said.
Canvassing votes for senior party leader and Home Minister A Namassivayam, who is contesting from here, he sought a second term for the NDA.
On the ruling combine's win in 2021, he said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had then said what was the big deal in winning a "small state" with 30 seats.
"Kharge saahab, whether the seats are 3 or 300, 30 or 300, states are states. For us, Puducherry is no less than a big state and it is very much a part of India," Shah added.
Patting Namassivayam for his work, he said the BJP leader had played a significant role in getting central funds to the UT.
"I have won elections seven times, but have no guts to conduct a job fair, but Namassivayam has done that and ensured jobs for many in Puducherry," he added.
Hitting out at the INDIA bloc, he said that while the NDA was unitedly facing polls, "on the other side, even before the government is formed INDI alliance constituents are already fighting for power."
He slammed the previous Congress government headed by V Narayanasamy and alleged corruption even in medical college admissions.
The CAG had earlier pointed to a "Rs 15,000 crore corruption" during the Congress rule, the union minister said, adding that this amount could be used to prepare the budget for the UT for three years.
Further, the unemployment rate during the Congress-DMK regime was 47 per cent, but has now come down to 4.3 per cent, Shah said.
He outlined the various development initiatives of the Centre for Puducherry and promised to make it a Blue Economy hub.
He also highlighted the various promises made in the party's election manifesto, including increasing assistance to fishermen.
"For Puducherry's development, a number of schemes have been initiated. On the other side is Rahul baba who thinks Pakistan's petrol rates are that of India. I want to appeal, pick NDA again and ensure Namassivayam's win by a big margin," the union minister said.