Amit Shah raises Hindutva pitch at U.P. rally
The Hindu
Asks voters to choose wisely, flags Akhilesh remarks on Jinnah
Raising the Hindutva pitch in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday offered voters the choice between two sets of what he abbreviated as JAMs — the BJP’s Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar card and mobile phones for everyone as against Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Mohammad Azam Khan and Mukhtar Ansari of the Opposition.
Addressing a rally after laying the foundation stone of a State university in Azamgarh, considered an SP stronghold, Mr. Shah took a swipe at Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav for his recent reference to Jinnah at a rally in Hardoi. While the BJP’s JAM stood for Jan Dhan bank account, Aadhaar and mobile phones, the SP version consisted of Jinnah, Azam and Mukhtar, Mr. Shah said.
Mr. Khan is a Lok Sabha member from Rampur in western U.P. and a senior Samajwadi Party leader while Mr. Ansari is a BSP MLA from Mau in Purvanchal adjoining Azamgarh and is designated a ‘mafia’ criminal by the BJP government. Both Muslim leaders are currently in jail.