No one can derail development agenda of Modi government: Amit Shah

Chennai, Dec 21: Amid the raging controversy over a conversion bid by some Sangh Parivar outfits, BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that such incidents would not derail the party-led NDA Government from its development agenda.

"BJP has made its stand clear on conversions. And no one can derail the party (government) from its development agenda," he told a press conference here.

He was replying to a question whether the campaign by some fringe groups on the conversion issue would affect the development agenda of the Narendra Modi Government. Asked repeatedly about the involvement of RSS in the matter, Shah evaded a direct reply and said, "RSS is a national organisation and I have no doubt over its activities."

Opposition parties have been seeking to corner the government on the 'ghar wapsi' campaign in parts of North India and stalled proceedings in Rajya Sabha demanding a statement from Modi. Shah, who is on a two-day visit to the city since yesterday, also said BJP's stand on forced conversions was clear and the government was ready to bring a law to ban them.

"BJP is clear about its stand on compulsory conversions. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu has said in Parliament that the government is ready to bring in a law against compulsory conversions. Are the so called secular parties ready to support it?" he asked.

He dismissed suggestions that his party was soft in criticising the AIADMK Government in the state as the two parties had some understanding, saying there was nothing called "indirect alliances" in politics.

"There is nothing called indirect alliance in politics. Whatever alliance we have it will be known and come in the press. Even yesterday, our BJP leaders have strongly criticised the Tamil Nadu Government in the public meeting (addressed by him)," Shah said replying to a query.

The BJP chief said he was not criticising the Dravidian parties but the their governments based on performance.

Stating that the state was passing through a crisis, he said, "Due to Congress-led misrule in the Centre and the bad governance of DMK and AIADMK in the state has suffered in terms of growth and development resulting in large-scale unemployment."

PTI