NEW DELHI—Amit Shah, a close aide of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been appointed as the President of the Bhartiya Janta Party. Shah acted as the BJP General Secretary before his appointment as the President. He is credited with a successful election campaign in Uttar Pradesh, where he bagged a crucial win for the party.
Shah’s appointment replaces Rajnath Singh, who is now the Home Minister for the Government of India. At the age of 49, he is the youngest person to be appointed chief of the Bhartiya Janta Party.
But there is more to his background, than just being a successful BJP leader –
The Indian Express has reported –
“Shah’s controversial past has continued to haunt him until lately. Accused of fake encounters involving Sohrabuddin Sheikh, Tulsi Prajapati among others, Shah spent three months in the Sabarmati jail before he secured bail in 2010.
The bail cleared the hurdles in the way of Shah’s imminent rise in the BJP where he enjoys complete trust and backing of Modi.
Shah was elevated as BJP’s general secretary in-charge of UP where he had less than a year to deliver as LS polls drew near.”
The BBC also termed Amit Shah as controversial, alleging that “Mr Shah is accused of sanctioning the killing of a Muslim civilian in 2005, when he was the home minister of Gujarat state.” It was further stated that –
“In 2010, Mr Shah resigned after he was charged with murder and kidnapping of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and arrested in connection with the killing. He spent more than three months in jail after which he was released on bail.”
These charges have been denied by Amit Shah however. Nonetheless, the appointment of Amit Shah now gives PM Narendra Modi complete control over the BJP, as well as the Government of India. The election slogan of “Ache Din Aane Wale Hai” (“The good days are about to come”) is perhaps coming true, but these “good days” are coming exclusively for the BJP and its officials.
