Giving a pep talk to Gujarat BJP workers in the wake of recent loss in local body polls, Amit Shah asked them not to get disappointed with the outcome. (PTI photo)
BJP President Amit Shah today described Gujarat as the "laboratory" of Sangh Parivar's ideology and expressed confidence of a victory for the party in 2017 Assembly polls as he once again attacked Rahul Gandhi over the JNU row.
Giving a pep talk to Gujarat BJP workers in the wake of recent loss in local body polls, Mr Shah asked them not to get disappointed with the outcome, confident that the saffron outfit will emerge victorious at the Assembly polls and also the 2019 national elections.
"We should not get disappointed here as this is the laboratory of our ideology. The 2012 win in Gujarat was the stepping stone for 2014 Lok Sabha win and in the same way 2017 victory will pave the way for win in 2019 national elections," Mr Shah asserted.
The BJP leader, who last month got re-elected as party President for a fresh three-year term, was addressing a meeting of party leaders and workers, who had gathered here from across the state.
Mr Shah asked them to work collectively for BJP's victory in the Assembly polls. He questioned the commitment of Mr Gandhi, the Congress Vice President, towards the country after his visit to JNU campus in support of students who allegedly raised anti-India slogans.
"I want to ask State Congress leaders whether they endorse Rahul Gandhi's stand on the JNU issue. He visited the (JNU) campus and extended support to those who raised anti- India slogans. He says they have freedom of expression. I wonder in which country Rahul lives," said Mr Shah.
"When Gujarat is going for Assembly polls, it is now the responsibility of each BJP worker to follow Congress leaders wherever they go and force them to clear their stand (on the JNU issue)," Mr Shah added.
After addressing the twin gatherings, Mr Shah, along with other leaders, held a detailed meeting with party workers, legislators at the state BJP headquarters near Gandhinagar.