New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress on Wednesday, accusing the opposition party of organising the "Ghuspaithiya Bachao" yatra to "protect infiltrators" in a bid to win elections with their support.

Shah was speaking at the Thyagaraj Stadium here. He inaugurated 17 public-welfare schemes of the Delhi government on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 75th birthday.

"Rahul Baba and the Congress party have just embarked on the 'Protect the Infiltrators Yatra' (Ghuspaithiya Bachao Yatra). They want infiltrators to remain on our voter lists because they do not trust the people of India. They want to win elections with the help of infiltrators. The BJP supports the SIR exercise to cleanse the electoral rolls," the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said, in an apparent reference to the Congress's "Voter Adhikar Yatra" taken out in Bihar.

He asked the gathering whether infiltrators should be removed from the voter list or not. He questioned the opposition, asking whom does it want to protect by organising the "Ghuspaithiya Bachao Yatra (Protect Infiltrators Yatra)".

The Congress held the 14-day and 1,300-km-long "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Bihar to mark its protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission (EC) in the poll-bound state.

Bihar goes to polls later this year.

The Congress and other opposition parties have alleged that the exercise is aimed at depriving people of their right to vote.

Shah also announced the inauguration of the Narela-Bawana Waste-to-Energy Plant in Delhi that will process 3,000 tons of waste, alongside the Okhla plant handling 2,000 metric tons, to generate electricity, boosting the circular economy and green energy.

He said the Modi government is going to generate electricity from the massive garbage mounds that once shamed the people of Delhi.

The home minister said regardless of the party that governed the national capital, Modi always provided more than what was due, without any discrimination.

Accusing the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi of discriminating against the city, Shah said the health insurance scheme of up to Rs 5 lakh announced by the Centre was not implemented in the capital.

He hailed Modi for ensuring the safety of the country's borders through surgical and air strikes.

"He gave a befitting reply to Pakistan with Operation Sindoor," Shah said.

He also asserted that India will become the third-largest economy in the world by 2027 under Modi's leadership.

"Former prime minister Manmohan Singh left the country's economy ranked 11th in the world. It was under Modi that we have become the fourth-largest economy," he added.

Shah said the Modi government has reduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on essential items from 28 per cent and 18 per cent to 5 per cent or nil.

Advising people to buy "swadeshi" items, he said, "From September 22, every item of daily use will have no or the minimum GST rate. I would advise all women to indulge in more shopping. There are 395 common items that will have zero or 5 per cent GST." Urging people to buy "swadeshi" items, he said, "Purchase as much as you want, but ensure that you buy swadeshi items. It should be in our habit to promote swadeshi for a prosperous India." Shah highlighted that the country's "long-standing" desire for a Ram temple in Ayodhya was fulfilled during Modi's tenure.

"Whether it was about building the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, restoring the Somnath temple with gold or constructing the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, Modi resolved many long-pending issues," he said.

Highlighting that the prime minister abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution in his second term, Shah said in his 24 years of public service, Modi has never taken a day off, tirelessly working for the country's development and the welfare of the poor.

Stressing that the prime minister considers the 140 crore people of the country as his family, Shah praised him for dedicating his entire life to their welfare.

Making the country secure, strengthening the economy, ensuring that facilities reach every poor household and igniting the resolve for a great India in every child's heart -- Modi has accomplished all of this during his 11-year tenure, the home minister noted.

"The country will always remember Modi's historic achievements," he said.

Enumerating the achievements of the prime minister, Shah said he has provided amenities to 60 crore people and lifted 25 crore people out of poverty.

"For the first time after Independence, Modi has undertaken the task of shortening the list of those living in poverty," he said. PTI SLB VIT BUN RC