Giving tit-for-tat to Pakistan: Amit Shah

Chalisgaon (Maharashtra), Oct 8: Facing criticism over government's response to ceasefire violations by Pakistan resulting in civilian casualties, BJP on Wednesday launched a counter attack on Congress, saying India under the new dispensation retaliates which was not the case earlier.

"Earlier also there was firing from across the border and now also there is firing from across the border. Earlier, Pakistan used to start and also finish the firing. Now, Pakistan starts the firing but it is the Indian military which finishes it," BJP president Amit Shah said.

"We are told that there is no difference in the situation on border between now and when Congress government was in power. Soniaji, you are wearing 'videshi' (foreign) spectacles. I will tell you what the difference has been after Modi government came to power. We are giving a tit-for-tat response to Pakistan," he said at a poll rally in Jalgaon district.

Calling former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "Mauni Baba" (Silent Baba), Shah said, "The whole country waited for him to speak, but he did not open his mouth.

Now, we have got a Prime Minister who speaks. "When Manmohan Singh used to go on foreign visits, nobody knew about it. But when Modi does the same now, the world knows," he said.

"Don't we feel happy when the goras (whites) queue up in the US to hear Modi's speech?" he asked. Shah said when Atal Behari Vajpayee handed over the reins to UPA government, the country's growth rate was 8.4 per cent.

"After 10 years, when you handed over reins to Modi government, it had fallen to 4.2 per cent," he said. "In the last three months, however, the growth rate has climbed to 5.7 per cent. This is our accomplishment," the BJP chief said.

PTI