New Delhi, May 17, 2019 (UNI) On the last day of election campaign for the big battle of 2019, BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday said one thing the party and the NDA government could not do in last five years was to "take the media along".
"Hum media ko saath nahi le sakey (We could not take the media along. We could not convince you people in last five years)," came a sharp and crisp retort from the BJP national president at a media conference organised at the party headquarters here. The media conference was also addressed by the Prime Minister.
In his remarks, Mr Modi exuded confidence that his party and government will return to power with an absolute majority and went on to state that essentially election campaign for him this year was a major "thanks giving exercise".
"I have come here to thank the people and also the media," Mr Modi, however said earlier adding - "Through everything in the last five years the people of India have stood by me".
Mr Modi also said - "It will happen after a long time in the country, our government will come to power with an absolute majority for the second consecutive time....This is unprecedented. It happened in 2014 and will happen again in 2019".
Making a veiled attack on the erstwhile UPA regime, Mr Modi said - "In last two elections, even IPL could not be held. When government is strong, IPL, Ramzaan, Hanuman Jayanti school exams and others take place peacefully".
To a question, Mr Shah denied that the saffron party was responsible for violence in West Bengal, and said: "It is BJP which has lost 80 party workers. On this my complaint is not against Mamata Banerjee, my complaint is against media which is not asking any counter questions to such leaders".
He also said the saffron party's performance in violence-marred polling in West Bengal will be "very good".