Give BJP ‘ik mauka’ in 2027, will ban conversions first: Shah

Killi Chahal (Moga): Union home minister Amit Shah sounded the bugle for the 2027 Punjab assembly election with a ‘Badlav rally' in Moga, urging people to give BJP "ik mauka" (one chance), and promising that the party's first legislation would be to ban religious conversions in Punjab."Under AAP govt, religious conversions have reached alarming levels. A BJP govt in Punjab will bring its first bill to ban religious conversions," Shah told a large gathering in Killi Chahal village, near Moga, on Saturday. Indicating that BJP would go it alone in 2027, Shah said he was confident BJP would form govt in Punjab. "It is the beginning of BJP's campaign. Whenever we came to Punjab, we came as the younger brother, but today I say, BJP is fighting the 2027 election to make its govt," he said."Congress and AAP govts have pushed Punjab into debt, drugs, and corruption. Only Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP can build a drug-free and development-oriented Punjab. BJP will make Punjab drug-free within two years of forming govt in the state," Shah said."Congress sent tanks to Akal Takht, damaging Sikh–Hindu unity. Punjab's development is possible only through the unity of both communities. Had Congress truly respected the Gurus, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur would not have been in Pakistan. Modi govt opened Kartarpur Corridor, enabling devotees to visit the shrine," the home minister said."In 2024, BJP got 19% votes, and our track record is that wherever we get these many votes, we formed govt," he said, citing examples of Odisha, Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Uttarakhand. "Now it is Punjab's turn," he said.To convey that his party delivered on its earlier announcements, he said, "We delivered on Article 370 in Kashmir. We eradicated Naxalism. If you want eradication of drugs from Punjab and stop conversions, corruption, gangsterism, and if unemployment is to be ended, then only BJP's double-engine govt can deliver," he said.Shah touched on quite a few issues concerning Punjab. While he went hammer and tongs at AAP and Congress, he mentioned Shiromani Akali Dal (BJP's former ally) only twice.He said industry is leaving Punjab and farmers were left in the lurch. "You gave opportunities to Congress, Akalis and AAP in the past. Now give an opportunity to BJP. We shall bring about a change in Punjab," he said.After opening his speech with ‘Jo Bole So Nihal', he made it a point to mention that it was the beginning of the new year according to Nanakshahi calendar. "First of all, I pay my respect to the Sikh Gurus. This turban (pointing to his saffron coloured turban) symbolises the debt the entire country owes the Gurus.""I said it on the occasion of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur, and I say it again that had there not been Guru Teg Bahadur, there would have been no Hindus in India. His sacrifice sustained the country," he said.Just after mentioning the Sikh Gurus, Shah also paid respects to Maharishi Valmiki, Guru Ravidas, Baba Jiwan Singh (Sikh martyr) and Maharaja Ranjit Singh.He said PM Modi was blessed by the Sikh Guru tradition and mentioned how important anniversaries related to the Sikh Gurus came during his tenure, and he turned these into national events and spread the message in the entire country."We registered 350 cases against perpetrators of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Congress sent none of these leaders to jail, but we sent many. Rather, Rahul Gandhi's father justified the atrocities on Sikhs, saying that if a big tree falls, then the earth shakes," he said, adding that PM Modi gave Rs. 5 lakh in compensation to the victim families.Through Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Modi govt granted citizenship to Sikhs who came from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and also arranged for the return of sacred copies of the Guru Granth Sahib to India, Shah said.Stating that Punjab was the granary of the country and its jawans protected the country, he said, "A journalist called me up asking whether you are changing govt in Punjab. I said, we could change, but where is govt in Punjab? I ask you people, is there any govt in Punjab? If there was a govt in Punjab, law and order wouldn't be this bad," he said."AAP came to office promising change. I ask, what is your CM doing? His only job is to take Arvind Kejriwal along on the Punjab govt plane wherever he would go in the country. The CM is reduced to just a pilot. This CM did nothing except this job," he said.He asked people if AAP govt had delivered on its promises of providing 25 lakh jobs, making Punjab drug-free in four months; 16,000 govt drug stores, hike in widow and old-age pensions to Rs 2,500 (per month), 16 medical colleges, raising Rs 20,000 crores from mining and MSP on all crops. "They promised to give Rs 5 lakh compensation each to the victims of the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots, but they did not pay," he said, pointing out that the highest procurement of rabi and kharif crops at MSP in Punjab took place during the Modi govt.Sharpening his attack on AAP govt in Punjab, he said, "This govt represents breaking of promises. This is a corrupt govt, neck-deep in corruption. The CM should be ashamed that four ‘subedars' from Delhi are sitting here and looting the state, and he can't utter a word.""How can AAP govt do any good for Punjab? It only became an ATM for Kejriwal. They are damaging the honour of Punjab," he said, adding, "In the beginning of this year, three sarpanches were murdered. Law and order has turned very bad. A report said that 45% business of heroin is in Punjab alone."Shah also accused AAP, Congress and especially Rahul Gandhi of misleading farmers on the India-US trade deal. "I urge farmers not to be misled by them. They are telling lies," he said."In the WTO in 2013, they promised to end MSP. Luckily, people kicked them out of power. In 2017, when there was time for confirmation, Modi Ji refused to confirm and said farmers would continue to get the MSP. We did maximum purchases on MSP," he said, specially mentioning Punjab in this context.Modi govt has made the biggest buying at MSP from farmers of Punjab, and money reaches bank accounts of farmers in just two days, he said. "During UPA govt, India's agriculture budget was Rs. 22,000 crore. But Modi govt increased it to Rs.140,000 crore. Every farmer is paid Rs.6,000 every year. As many as 13.5 crore people receive funds under Kisan Samman Nidhi. Congress never bought pulses at MSP. But we arranged for 100% purchase of pulses at MSP through NAFED. We are buying maize at MSP," he added.