Amit Shah calls for completing Narendra Modi's agenda of 'Cong-free India'

Mumbai, Sept 4:

president

on Thursday exhorted party workers to complete Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unfinished agenda of a "Congress-free India" even as he sought to put to rest speculation about a rift with ally Shiv Sena by accepting an invitation from its chief Uddhav Thackeray for a meeting.

"Today I am here to tell every BJP worker that Narendra Modi has dreamt of an India that is free from the Congress. But this will not be possible till the party is uprooted from Maharashtra. You have to make sure they do not even get a chance to have a leader of the opposition in the Assembly, like the way they do not have one in the Lok Sabha," he told party workers on his maiden visit to the city after taking over the reins of the party.

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, Shah said if the Congress vice president had spoken more than what he did during Lok Sabha poll campaign, the party would have failed to get even 44 seats.

Shah also paid homage to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray

"Digvijay Singh said they got less seats because Rahul Gandhi was silent. But if he (Rahul) had spoken more than what he spoke, the Congress would have found it impossible to secure even 44 seats in the Lok Sabha," he said.

During his visit, Shah also sought to put an end to speculation that ties with BJP's oldest ally Shiv Sena were under severe strain over the latter's demand for more seats by accepting an invitation from Uddhav for a meeting at his residence 'Matoshree'.

"Uddhav yesterday invited Shah to his residence 'Matoshree'. The invitation has been accepted and he will pay a courtesy visit to Uddhav at 9.30 PM today," Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Vinod Tawde said.

There were reports that Shah may not meet Uddhav and limit himself to BJP's programmes during his stay in Mumbai. Shah also paid homage to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray at his 'Samadhi' at Shivaji Park.

PTI