He also said the 2022 elections are for "strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hands and for making Yogi chief minister again".

 "SP and BSP's 'babua and bua" both had crumbled the economy of such a big state as Uttar Pradesh, the economic system was on the seventh spot in the country which was brought to second spot by Yogiji in five years. Give another chance of five years and it will be taken to the first spot," Shah told an election meeting in Auraiya.

Claiming success on the law and order front under the Yogi Adityanath government, he asked, "Can any mafia trouble you anywhere, can anyone encroach your land, play with the honour of mothers and sisters? Yogi ji has ensured the migration of mafia from Uttar Pradesh." 

"Akhilesh Yadav had asked what has happened (during the five years of BJP government), the one who has put yellow spectacles will see everything as pale," he said taking a swipe at the SP chief.

"Yogiji has brought down the dacoity in your time down by by 72 per cent, loot by 62 per cent, murder by 31 per cent and rape by 50 per cent," he said.

Continuing his attack, he said, "During the Akhilesh government, only 'kattas' and sharpnels were made in Uttar Pradesh but now during the BJP government 'goley' (ammunition) are being made here which will be fired at Pakistan. This change has come in five years by the BJP government."

Praising Modi, he said that he has ensured the safety of the country. "When the SP-BSP supported the Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh government, there was intrusion from Pakistan and our soldiers were beheaded but there was no reaction from our 'Mauni Baba', but Modi avenged such misadventures after coming to power, sending a strong message to the world," he asserted. 

 Exhorting the youth, whom he had earlier addressed as "jigar ke tukde jaiey yuva", he asked whether Kashmir is a part of India and Article 370 should have been abolished or not. -- PTI