Hyderabad, 2 November (H.S.): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday accused Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of turning the state into an ATM for the Congress leadership in Delhi, while launching a sharp attack on the Congress and Rahul Gandhi over their criticism of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Addressing a gathering at Mozamjahi Market after leading the BJP's 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) padyatra, Shah alleged that the Congress was attempting to come to power through what he described as anarchy and by undermining democratic institutions.

The approximately 1.5-km foot march began at the statue of Dr Babu Jagjivan Ram in Basheerbagh and passed through the Abids area before reaching Mozamjahi Market. Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, senior leader Eatala Rajender, elected representatives and party workers participated.

Questioning the Congress's criticism of EVMs, Shah asked how the party had formed governments in Telangana, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh if it believed the voting machines were unreliable. He accused the Congress of accepting electoral outcomes when it won and questioning the EVMs when it lost.

Shah also alleged that the Congress was involved in scams and scandals worth Rs. 12 lakh crore during its 10 years in power at the Centre.

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, Shah referred to the Congress leader's participation in a mock Parliament and said he would never become Prime Minister in the actual Parliament. He also described the Congress as being on a ventilator and claimed that the party could be defeated even by the BJP Yuva Morcha president.

Referring to Hyderabad's integration with India, Shah said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had played a decisive role in making the Nizam surrender, adding that Hyderabad would not have become part of India without his intervention.

The padyatra was organised as part of the BJP's nationwide campaign to counter the INDIA bloc's allegations of vote theft and irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. The Opposition had held a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday, targeting the BJP-led NDA government and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar