After launching the BJP's 'Johar Jan Ashirwad Yatra' in Jamtara, more than 250 km from Jharkhand's capital Ranchi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke about BJP's achievements in the state, all while he questioned what Congress had done for the state. Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, and Bihar minister Nand Kishore Yadav, who is BJP's in-charge of Jharkhand, were present for the occasion.

READ | Amit Shah inaugrates the Johar Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Jharkhand

What has Congress done for the state?

Assembly elections are due in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Haryana this year. Addressing a public meeting after launching the Yatra, Amit Shah said his party had stood in favour of removing Article 370 ever since it had been there. Furthermore, he asked why the Congress felt a "stomach ache" following its annulment.

He said, "Removing Article 370, Modi ji showed Pakistan its place, and established that Kashmir is an integral part of India."

"Our stand has been to remove Article 370 ever since it had been there," Shah said and further asked "why the Congress felt a 'stomach ache' following its abrogation?".

READ | J&K Govt informs citizens about benefits of abrogation of Article 370

Amit Shah also said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should tell people of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Haryana when he goes there, whether he was with the decision to abrogate Article 370. Launching a scathing attack at the Congress, he said the party had also opposed and sought evidence after the surgical strike.

"They (Congress) should tell the people which direction they want to go," he added. 

READ | Amit Shah: Article 370 decision taken by PM Modi in Aug 5 cabinet meet

Vajpayee's achievements 

Amit Shah then reminded the gathering of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's achievements and said even while being in the opposition, his party leaders had supported the government on important issues.

"Atal Bihari Vajpayee had supported former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after winning the Bangladesh Liberation war," Shah said.

"Atal ji also put Indias side at the United Nations on Kashmir issue when former Prime Minister P V Narasimha asked him to go and put Indias side," Shah added.

With the upcoming assembly election in Jharkhand, the BJP president wanted to know what the Congress-led UPA government had given to the state in terms of developmental initiatives. He reminded the people that the Congress had not accepted Jharkhand peoples decades-old wishes for a separate state, but it was for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had fulfilled their dreams. Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar and made a separate state in 2000 under the Vajpayee government.

"I don't hesitate to say that Atal Ji created Jharkhand and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji nursed it

READ | PM Modi pays tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee says 'His thoughts and words live on'

Stable Government

Referring to how the previous Arjun Munda-led governments in the state had been overthrown due to lack of majority, Shah said the people had a stable government since 2014 under the leadership of Chief Minister Raghubar Das, who had given them a government that worked for their development.

"There is Modi government above and Raghubar Das government below. The double engine governments have changed Jharkhand, and the evidence is that the people of Jharkhand gave 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats to Modi government in the Lok Sabha elections," Shah said. "The double engine governments will make Jharkhand the number one state in the country," Shah promised. 

"Naxalism was there, but now Jharkhand is headed towards almost Naxal-free state and moving forward with developmental initiatives," he said.

READ | PM Modi: 'Jharkhand is the launching pad of big schemes'

Health, Education, and Finances

Amit Shah gave an account of the Central and State Government's accomplishments to the people. He said that the central and state governments developed sectors like electricity, housing, health care, toilet construction, free of cost gas connections, and drinking water. He also spoke about how they had set up two battalions comprising Paharia tribes and nearly 70 Eklavya schools. He then demanded that the Congress should also give an account what it had done during its ten years rule.

"I would like to ask what has the UPA given in its ten years rule to Jharkhand? While the 13th Finance Commission had given only fifty-five thousand and two hundred crore to Jharkhand, the 14th Finance commission under Narendra Modi gave 2.5 times more funds, giving one lakh and forty-five thousand crores," Shah said.

He said the "Johar Jan Ashirwad Yatra" of Chief Minister Raghubar Das, will criss-cross all the 81 assembly constituencies and when it reaches Ranchi, the BJP would once again form a majority government.

READ | PM Modi to announce new pension schemes from Jharkhand on Thursday

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