An unusual question was thrown up to Amit Shah by actor Varun Dhawan :::: What's the difference between Lord Ram and Ravan

Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday evening, while responding to actor Varun Dhawan's question at Agenda Aaj Tak, on what's the difference between God Ram and Ravan; waxed eloquently - 

"For some, Dharma (duty) decides their interest, while for others, their interest decides Dharma. This is the key difference between Lord Ram and Ravan," Shah said, explaining that Lord Ram upheld Dharma, whereas Ravan manipulated it for personal gain.

During the event, actor Varun Dhawan praised Shah’s dedication, likening it to the devotion of Lord Hanuman. Dhawan remarked, "He is working hard for the country," drawing a parallel with Hanuman’s legendary commitment to duty.

At the programme, Shah said :

"Simultaneous election was stopped after former PM Jawaharlal Nehru broke the CPI(M) government in Kerala, followed by Indira Gandhi's practise of breaking the government on a larger scale. 

Even in 1971, just to win elections, Lok Sabha was dissolved before time. This is when the mismatch started and elections began taking place separately," he said.   

He pitched for 'One Nation One Election', dismissing allegations that the contentious bill undermines the principles of federalism.

Defending the BJP's push for simultaneous elections, Shah explained how Assembly and general elections conducted together in 2014 and 2019 did not guarantee the BJP's success in Odisha.

He pooh poohed the Opposition allegations and said:

"One Nation One Election is not a new thing. 

Three elections in this country were conducted under the One Nation One Election method. 

In 1952, all elections were held simultaneously. In 1957, although elections were scheduled for different dates, the assemblies of eight states were dissolved, enabling simultaneous elections. 

Even after this, the third election was conducted largely following the One Nation, One Election approach," Amit Shah said.

Responding to the allegations that One Nation One Election is a presidential-styled model and would benefit the BJP, Amit Shah dismissed such notion.

"This is absolutely wrong. Assembly elections and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha were conducted together, but the BJP lost. In 2019, we got a massive mandate across the country, but we lost in Andhra Pradesh".