Congress wiped out in phase-1 of Chhattisgarh polls: Amit Shah

RAIPUR: Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that round-1 of voting in Chhattisgarh indicates that BJP will form the government.

"Congress was wiped out in the first phase of election in Chhattisgarh. It is now certain that BJP will form the government," Shah said.

He addressed a series of election rallies in Jashpur, Kunkuri and Chandrapur assembly constituencies where he alleged that Congress kept obstructing construction of Ram Mandir for 70 years. "But when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, he laid the foundation of Ram Temple and now on the 22nd of January, the temple will be consecrated," Shah said.

The BJP manifesto says that people who have BPL cards will be taken for pilgrimage to Ayodhya in turns, he said, adding: "Rahul Baba used to mock us saying that we are not mentioning the date of the consecration of the Ram Temple. Now we have announced the date. I know he will never visit Ram Temple, but the people here will certainly visit."

There is unfettered religious conversion of tribals in Congress rule, Shah alleged. "I want to make it clear that it is the land of Judeo Ji and we will not allow anyone to convert tribals without their consent," he said.