Karaikal (Puducherry), February 14 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on Saturday that the interests of Indian farmers and fishermen have been fully protected in the recent Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and the Indo-US trade deal signed by the country, and criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for misleading them with "lies" and trying to create an "illusion."
Shah also praised Prime Minister Modi's decisive leadership in taking action against terrorism, including the surgical strikes after the Pulwama attack and Operation Sindoor. He paid tributes to the CRPF personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
Shah attacked Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accusing Gandhi of "starting a new tradition of telling lies daily" and urging him to "carefully" review the details of the recent deals with the UK and EU, as well as the US.
"It's Rahul Gandhi's policy to lie, lie loudly, and repeat it. But people have identified your lie-manufacturing factory," he said during a well-attended BJP rally in this upcoming election-bound Union Territory.
Shah charged that Gandhi intends to mislead Indian fishermen and farmers by spreading "illusions."
Shah stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured "100 per cent protection" for farmers, fishermen, and livestock breeders in the FTAs and the Indo-US trade deal.
Shah reiterated that the interests of Indian stakeholders have been ensured "100 per cent" through the FTAs and the trade deal. He stated that fishermen would benefit from the FTAs.
Shah also accused the UPA government, led by the late Manmohan Singh, of "selling off" farmers' interests.
"The FTAs and trade deal will not cause any harm to our farmers. The harm to farmers was done during your Manmohan Singh government. Several global agreements were signed back then in which the interests of farmers were sold off. Here, Narendra Modi ji has ensured the protection of farmers and livestock rearers," he said.
PM Modi has worked to provide 100 per cent protection to farmers, brothers and sisters involved in animal husbandry, and fishermen, Shah stated.
Further, the top BJP leader targeted the previous Puducherry Congress regime led by V Narayanasamy (2016-21) over corruption, citing a recent CAG report and alleging that "the entire development fund of Rs 15,000 crore was swallowed" in the union territory during the grand old party-led government. A probe into the matter has begun and Rs 15,000 crore is "Puducherry's three-year budget."
Narayansamy's government had turned the UT into an "ATM for the Gandhi family" and his objective was to fill the coffers of the Delhi high command, Shah charged.
"They openly auctioned off PG and diploma seats. They even sold the reserved seats for SC and ST to wealthy people out of greed for money. They did the Centac scam, (medical admission scam) and the CBI is investigating it. They left the transport mafias free to trouble the public," he alleged.
For five years, the Congress government created an atmosphere of corruption and disorder in Puducherry. In those years of bad governance, not only was there corruption, but institutions here did not function properly, he said, adding, disorder was at its peak. "Earlier, Puducherry's decisions were taken by the Gandhi family in the Delhi court, but now Puducherry's decisions are being taken by Puducherry itself."
In the last five years, the AINRC-BJP regime ended corruption, and "we have changed disorder into order." And now is the time, in the next five years, to make Puducherry a developed territory, he said, adding, there was a need to move forward with the resolve to make the UT developed in every aspect.
The leader emphasised that in the coming five years, the primary concentration would be on building an ecosystem that connects the products of Puducherry's fishermen to the international market. Furthermore, he asserted that Puducherry would be transformed into a center of excellence for IT software, AI, and data centers, ensuring that every youth in Puducherry is provided with ample employment opportunities."
Days ago, PM Modi visited Malaysia where Tamils live in large numbers. There, he announced the establishment of a Tiruvalluvar chair at a Malaysian varsity, Shah said. Modi has also assured scholarships to the Malaysian Tamils. And in Malaysia, the Tamil language has now received the status of an official minority language, he added.
Shah said the PM would visit Puducherry, where polls are due in April, soon to announce and inaugurate various development schemes. He appealed to Puducherry voters to elect again, the AINRC-BJP government under Chief Minister N Rangaswamy and Modi's leadership for the region's development.
He expressed confidence in the NDA forming a government, by securing more than 24 seats in the 30-member Assembly. He underscored the "double-engine government's" achievements; of ending corruption and ensuring political stability.
The BJP veteran also expressed confidence that in 2029, under PM Modi, BJP-led NDA will assume power again at the Centre.
Meanwhile, as part of the BJP's election campaign, Shah painted the party's lotus symbol on a wall in the UT.
