Amit Shah in maiden Rajya Sabha speech: What’s wrong in selling ‘pakodas’...son of chaiwala is PM of this nation

BJP president Amit Shah today delivered his maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha as he initiated discussion on Motion of Thanks to President Ram Nath Kovind’s address. Shah, who was elected to the Upper House of Parliament in August,  2017, targeted opposition Congress over its stand on issues like GST implementation and defended the government on unemployment.

In a reference to previous UPA dispensation, Shah said it took a lot of time for the NDA government to fill the "hole" it inherited from its predecessor.

Targeting former Finance Minister P Chidambaram who had criticised PM Modi's recent statement that a person selling 'pakodas' should be seen as being employed, Shah said "it is better to sell pakodas than begging." 

"The next generation of pakoda seller could become an industrialist. Son of a tea seller is today sitting in this House as the Prime Minister of the country," he said. 

Highlights of Amit Shah's maiden Rajya Sabha speech​: 

* Amit Shah concludes his speech in Rajya Sabha

* I appeal everyone to start a debate on simultaneous elections: Amit Shah

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi has uprooted dynasty, casteism and appeasement from the country: Amit Shah 

* For years, dynasty, casteism and appeasement have plagued India: Amit Shah 

* Some people even see win in  defeat: Amit Shah 

* Even after 3.5 years, opposition cannot accuse of any corruption: Amit Shah 

* We will see many gold and silver medals through this 'Khelo India': Amit Shah

* Every year the government is saving Rs 57,000 crore after implementation of DBT: Amit Shah

* This time again you are opposing the triple talaq bill, your tactics have changed: Amit Shah

* You brought a bill overturn the Supreme Court ruling after Shah Bhano case: Amit Shah to Congress 

* When the Prime Minister brought triple talaq bill to for Muslim women, it was also stopped by Congress: Amit Shah

* Kashmir issue is  very  crucial problem for the nation. Kashmir has never been so safe in the last 35 years. We handled the Kashmir issue very well: Amit Shah

* Surgical strike was a historic moment. World started seeing India from a different view. They realised that after America & Israel, India is the only country which can protect its soldiers and Army: Amit Shah

* PM Modi did not issue a statement, but within 10 days, our Amry crossed the border and avenged the attack: Amit Shah 

* When Pak-sponsored terrorists attacked an Army camp and burned 12 jawans alive, the country was in despair: Amit Shah

* Our government, one year after coming to power, implemented OROP: Amit Shah 

* No government could implement OROP: Amit Shah 

* It is spent to on pension of widows: Amit Shah

* Where does the tax collected through GST goes? It goes to pay pensions to armed forces veterans through OROP: Amit Shah

* GST was called 'Gabbar Singh Tax'. This is a tax imposed by law, is this robbery?:  Amit Shah

* You have to listen to me. I will stay here for 6 years: Amit Shah to Congress

* Every state has representation in GST Council. No Congress minister has opposed any move in GST Council: Amit Shah

* When UPA proposed GST, every state was opposed to it: Amit Shah

* BJP had never opposed the GST  when it was in opposition, it opposed the way the UPA was trying to implement GST: Amit Shah

* Many people came to power with the slogan of 'garibi hatao' but only Modi government has actually lifted the living standards of the poor: Amit Shah

* When we came into power, there were 18,000 villages without electricity. We have provided electricity to 16,000 of those villages: Amit Shah 

* I believe a person earning livelihood with hardwork is as big in stature as these people sitting in this House: Amit Shah

* Today a son of chailwala is PM of this nation: Amit Shah

* In fact comparing those selling pakodas with beggars is a shameful thing to do: Amit Shah

* Selling pakoda is not shameful: Amit Shah

* You cannot compare self-employment with beggars: Amit Shah

* I believe selling pakodas is better than unemployment:  Amit Shah

* Such problems can not be solved in 8 years: Amit Shah

* I accept there is a problem of unemployment. But this problem did not arrive in last 4 years. Those who ruled for 55 years are now raising the issue. It is because of their policies we are facing unemployment: Amit Shah

* Under Jan Dhan Yojna, 31 crore bank accounts were opened across the country, now every family now has a bank account: Amit Shah

* I am pleased to inform you that after request from PM Modi, around 1.30 crore people gave up their gas subsidy: Amit Shah