Amit Shah calls for neutral probe in Sabaribala gold heist case

T'puram: Union home minister Amit Shah sought a neutral probe into the gold heist at Sabarimala and said BJP would launch a protest in Kerala if this was not done. Addressing party workers at an event held to felicitate winners of local body polls, Shah said he had seen the heist case FIR. "It is designed to protect the real culprits," he alleged."How can justice be ensured and a neutral investigation be carried out when ministers are involved? It is time for CM Pinarayi Vijayan to go as LDF could not safeguard Sabarimala or bring development to Kerala," he claimed.Setting the tone for BJP's assembly election campaign, Shah claimed BJP will assume power in Kerala this year. He said BJP aims to develop Kerala, protect the state from anti-nationals and safeguard the centuries-old devotion of the people. Shah added that people know UDF and LDF cannot achieve this and only BJP can deliver development and security.Shah claimed the match-fixing by UDF and LDF led to stagnation and that development and security will not come from either front. He said Communist Parties are dead all over the world and the Congress is dying in India. Shah claimed Kerala will see progress through PM Narendra Modi and BJP and added that Modi is planning for a developed India by 2047.Expressing confidence, Shah said BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar can end the musical chair between LDF and UDF. He said the party's vote share has increased from 16% in 2019 to 20% in 2024. Shah claimed the road to a 30-40% vote share is not far away and will be achieved in 2026 elections.Shah recalled that BJP first won in Ahmedabad municipal corporation and that pattern can be repeated in Kerala. "Today we have a mayor in Thiruvananthapuram and tomorrow we will see a chief minister," he claimed.Referring to BJP's growth, Shah said the party only had two seats in 1984 and now it is Modi's third tenure as PM. He claimed that in Assam, BJP had two seats and has now formed govt twice. In Manipur, the party formed govt twice. In Tripura, there was no MLA earlier, but BJP came to power twice. Shah said BJP earlier had only 25 of the 400 seats in UP but has now formed govt twice. He added that Kerala now needs development beyond the remittance economy.On security, Shah asked whether LDF or UDF can keep Kerala safe from Popular Front of India, SDPI and Jamaat. He alleged they cannot as these groups are their vote banks. Shah claimed only BJP can save Kerala from the divisive agenda of SDPI, PFI and Jamaat. He added that BJP stopped triple talaq while LDF and UDF opposed it and questioned whether Muslim women need to live with dignity.Referring to the waqf land controversy in Ernakulam, Shah alleged LDF did nothing when land belonging to Hindus came under waqf. He claimed this showed appeasement politics and added that BJP's policy is justice for all and appeasement for none.Blaming UDF and LDF for supporting each other when in need, Shah said elections are approaching in Bengal and Kerala. "In Bengal, Congress is 0 and CPM is 0. BJP will win," he said.