Chandigarh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning his political ambitions and leadership while asserting that the Congress would continue to face electoral setbacks.
Addressing a gathering in Chandigarh, Shah took aim at Gandhi’s popular slogan, ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’, alleging that the Congress leader was spreading hatred rather than promoting love.
“Rahul ji, you will find nothing but hatred in your shop of love,” Shah remarked.
The Home Minister also criticised Gandhi’s mock Parliament exercise, suggesting that it was part of a political strategy to fulfil his ambition of becoming Prime Minister.
“Rahul Gandhi wants to become Prime Minister, and that is why he has found a new way by organising a mock Parliament. Rahul ji, you can continue to remain Prime Minister in your mock Parliament. Your dream of becoming the Prime Minister of the country, however, will not be fulfilled,” Shah said.
Taking another swipe at the Congress, Shah highlighted the party’s performance in Delhi, pointing out that it had failed to win a single seat in the last three Assembly elections. He predicted that the party would suffer a similar outcome in the next three elections and urged its leaders to prepare for another stint in the Opposition.
Shah also referred to appeals made by Delhi traders to the Congress, asking the party to reconsider holding its rally during the festive season.
His remarks come as political preparations gather momentum ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The BJP is looking to strengthen its position in the state and has indicated its intention to seek a mandate to form a government independently rather than remain a junior alliance partner.
The drug menace has emerged as a major focus of the BJP’s Punjab campaign. Shah has promised to make Punjab and the rest of the country drug-free by December 31, 2029.
With the Aam Aadmi Party already announcing its first list of 40 candidates, the political contest in Punjab is beginning to intensify. The BJP is expected to focus its campaign on governance, leadership, drug-related challenges and national political issues while taking on both the Congress and AAP.
