Manmohan made same number of foreign trips as Modi: Amit Shah

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Saturday debunked criticism of the Congress about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits, saying that United Progressive Alliance prime minister Manmohan Singh had undertaken same number of trips abroad.

"I hear people saying that Modi is only interested in foreign tours and has made a number of trips in a year. But I want to say that Modiji has undertaken the same number of tours as former PM Manmohan Singh. The only difference is that people never came to know about his tours," Shah said while addressing a BJP state executive meet in Kolhapur.

"When Modiji undertakes a trip abroad, thousands of Indians wait to welcome him and foreign nations are eager to do business with India," he added.

Listing out the achievements of the Modi government, which is set to complete a year in office on May 26, Shah criticised the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government over corruption.

"Even the staunchest of opponents cannot accuse the National Democratic Alliance government of corruption, while there was corruption to the tune of Rs 12 lakh crore during the UPA government," he said.

"In the first Cabinet meeting of the Modi government, a special investigation team was constituted to probe black money. The government has also proposed a jail term of 10 years for people found stashing away black money overseas," he said.

Within the first year of the NDA rule, the growth rate has gone up to 5.7 per cent from 4.4 per cent, Shah said adding that the government has also come out with an insurance scheme for people at a very nominal rate and over seven crore people have already applied for it.

On Modi's pet project 'Make in India', Shah said it would generate employment for crores of people in India. "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao are some of the programmes launched by our government," he said.

Talking about the security issues, the BJP leader said, "Our borders are more secure now." On Maharashtra, Shah said the state has seen a corruption-free government after 15 years and the new government has fulfilled many of its electoral promises.

"Everybody knows that the Devendra Fadnavis government has done a lot for people's welfare. Electricity rates have gone down, LBT has been abolished, investments have started coming in, employment rate is increasing and farmers problems are being addressed," he said.

In a veiled reference to ally Shiv Sena, Shah urged BJP workers to win the seats that the party had lost to other parties and ensure a victory in the next election.

"I appeal to all BJP workers to start working under a leader for all these seats that the party has lost in the recent election and ensure that lotus (BJP symbol) blooms there once again," he said.

"Whenever somebody talks to our party leaders, they should do so keeping in mind the strength of BJP," Shah added.