Gujarat Won’t Pick Clone Over Original Hindutva Party: Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was evidently taking a dig at the Congress party.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

(Photo: PTI)

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday, 2 December, said the people of Gujarat didn’t need to pick a “clone” when they had the “original pro-Hindutva” party – the BJP.

Jaitley was taking a dig at the Congress party in the run up to the upcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat. Speaking to the media in Surat, Jaitley said:

The BJP has always been seen as a pro-Hindutva party. So if an original is available, why would the people pick a clone?

Alluding to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s rule, Jaitley said the UPA government under him was the “most corrupt.”

It was said that the then PM was in office but not in power.

Arun Jaitley

The Congress and the BJP have been taking incessant pot shots at each other ahead of the crucial Gujarat polls.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to the Somnath temple was also mired in controversy after his name was found written on the entry register meant for non-Hindus. The Congress accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy against its leader and insisted Gandhi has declared himself as a 'Shiv Bhakt' (Lord Shiva devotee) and is a 'janeu-dhari' (sacred thread-wearing) Hindu.

The BJP, however, dismissed the charge as baseless, saying Gandhi's aide who signed the register belongs to the Congress.

The Congress attacked the Narendra Modi-led BJP government on the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the note ban. To this, Jaitley responded saying, “The GST has made doing business and trade very easy. The market size for every trader has grown. Now the whole country is his market.”

(With inputs from PTI)

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