Don't play politics with our soldiers: Amit Shah to Congress

Bhubaneswar, Jan 6 (IANS) BJP chief Amit Shah Tuesday hit out at the Congress for questioning the government over the Coast Guard operation leading to the interception and subsequent sinking of a Pakistani terror boat and the death of suspected terrorists on board. He said the party should not play politics over the sacrifices of Indian security forces and instead encourage them.

"The Congress is asking whether they were terrorists or not. I want to know whether the Congress is going to contest elections in Pakistan or in India?" Shah said at a public meeting here.

"Don't play such politics over the sacrifice of Indian forces," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president said, and asked the opposition party to encourage Indian soldiers.

He criticised the Congress for its "misrule" during the 60 years the party was in power in the country.

Referring to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, he said: "A worried Rahul baba is asking us for a report card on what we have done in the last six months. We have taken several welfare measures in the period. But I want to ask Rahul baba, first you give a report card on what your family has done in the 60 years?"

Shah said Rahul Gandhi was angry as the Congress was denied the status of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Shah also focused on strengthening the BJP's organisational base in Odisha.

He urged party workers to reach out to the people and convince them to join the development journey started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Odisha has every potential to become the No.1 state. It can benefit from its rich natural resources. You have seen the progress that BJP-ruled states have achieved. So, if the BJP forms the government here Odisha can be the No.1 state in the country."

He said that while Odisha's mineral wealth was helping the nation to progress, the state itself has remained underdeveloped as the money was not being utilised properly.

Criticising the underperformance of the Biju Janata Dal government, Shah said just 14 percent of people in the state have access to safe drinking water, only 22 percent have toilets in their homes and 46 percent were still living below the poverty line.

"There are hospitals, but no doctors. There are schools, but no teachers. People are migrating to Gujarat in search of work. Unemployment is growing in the state," he said.