"Sharad Pawar institutionalised corruption, biggest mastermind": Amit Shah at BJP's Maharashtra conclave

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], July 21 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched sharp attacks on former Union Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar) supremo Sharad Pawar over corruption accusing him of "institutionalising" corruption.
"They (the opposition) are speaking about corruption. The biggest mastermind of corruption in Indian politics is Sharad Pawar and I have no confusion in that. What will they accuse us of now? If somebody has done the job of institutionalising corruption, Sharad Pawar, it is you. And you are accusing us of corruption?" Amit Shah said while addressing BJP conclave in Maharashtra's Pune on Sunday.
Shah hit out at the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Sharad Pawar over the alleged milk powder import circular that is making rounds in the state. He accused the MVA of "spreading lies" and announced that not even 1 gram of milk powder will be imported in the next five years.
"They are spreading lies using an old and outdated circular. Even I was confused so I called Piyush Goyal ji (Commerce and Industry Minister). Then Piyush Goyal ji said it was not ours, it was Sharad Pawar's. He (Sharad Pawar) is saying milk powder will be imported. Don't be confused. They had issued such circulars. In the last 10 years, not even 1 kg of milk powder was imported under PM Modi's government and for the next 5 years also not even 1 gram of milk powder will be imported, this is my word here to you. They want to spread misconceptions and win the elections," Shah said.
Maharashtra is likely to poll for the 288-member legislative assembly as the tenure of the current government is ending in 2024. However, the Election Commission is yet to announce the dates.
Shah further accused Sharad Pawar of "disabling" the Maratha reservation whenever his party came to power in the state. Shah also vowed to continue the Maratha reservation in the state if voted to power.
"Whenever the BJP government comes to power in Maharashtra, Marathas get a reservation and whenever Sharad Pawar's government comes to power, Maratha reservation disappear. Pawar government disables it whenever they get a chance. But I want to say that the 10-year extension was given only during the time of Modi Ji and despite having an absolute majority, the work of strengthening reservation was done by our leader Modi Ji," he said.
"In 2014, under Devendra Fadnavis as the CM, you got the Maratha reservation. If you want to continue the Maratha reservation, you must make the BJP win," he added.
Launching an attack on the Congress party, Shah said, "Many misconceptions were spread in the country, but we should not fall for their (opposition) misconceptions. They (the opposition) said that the BJP would end the reservation. I want to remind you all that it was under the leadership of Modi ji that reservation was extended."
"For decades Congress ruled this country, but what did they do to uplift the poor? They ruled for decades but what did they do for the welfare of the poor? They cannot do garib kalyan. Only Bharatiya Janata Party can do garib kalyan," he added.
Shah further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi worked to provide 33 per cent reservation to women representatives in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas by bringing Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah hit out at the opposition alliance in Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) referring to it as the "Aurangzeb fan club" and alleged that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is the club leader.
Shah also targeted Congress accusing the party of spreading "misconceptions" about reservation and alleged that the Congress party cannot do "garib kalyan."
"Maha Vikas Aghadi is Aurangzeb fan club. This Aurangzeb fan club cannot ensure India's security. Uddhav Thackeray is the leader of this Aurangzeb Fan club. This Fan Club cannot make Maharashtra and India safe. It's only the BJP that can ensure the safety and security of all," Shah said while addressing the gathering in Pune.
"Uddhav Thackeray shares his meals with people involved with Kasab, he supports PFI and stands against renaming Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar," he added.
Highlighting the Lok Sabha election results, Shah said that the BJP won for the third time while the Congress party failed to breach the 240 mark.
"BJP got 240 seats, NDA got 300 seats and the entire INDI alliance did not even get 240 seats. Even if we combine the seats won by Congress in the past 3 elections, even then they can not breach the 240-seat mark. In this election also, the people of India gave Modi ji their stamp of approval. BJP stood victorious for the third consecutive time," he said.
"It's after 60 years that a Prime Minister has taken oath for the third consecutive term. It is only because of the able leadership of PM Modi ji. In Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections, we must strive to get a greater mandate than before!," he added.