News Analysis India

Tag: Rajasthan elections

  • ‘PM has resorted to tactics of FDI – fear, deception, intimidation’: Congress on Rajasthan ED raids

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Slamming the Centre over the ED’s action against its leaders in poll-bound Rajasthan, the Congress on Thursday alleged that faced with the prospect of “certain defeat”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resorted to tactics of “FDI – fear, deception and intimidation.”

    The party said people would give a befitting reply to the BJP for resorting to such tactics.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday raided the premises of Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and party candidate from the Mahua assembly seat as part of a money laundering investigation into the alleged exam paper leak case in the state, official sources said.

    It also summoned Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case.

    Several Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, spoke out on the matter.

    Kharge alleged that agencies such as the ED, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax Department become the real ‘panna pramukh’ (party workers) of the BJP as soon as elections come.

    “Seeing its certain defeat in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party made its last throw of the dice! After Chhattisgarh, the ED has also entered the election campaign in Rajasthan and started action against Congress leaders,” Kharge said.

    “The dictatorship of the Modi government is fatal for democracy. We will continue to fight against the misuse of agencies, and the public will give a befitting reply to the BJP,” the Congress chief said in a post on X.

    Ashok Gehlot said that the Congress launched “guarantees” (poll promises) for women of Rajasthan on Wednesday and the ED’s action against Dotasra and Vaibhav Gehlot came just a day later.

    “Now you can understand what I have been saying…ED’s raids happen every day in Rajasthan because the BJP does not want women, farmers and poor in the state to get the benefit of the guarantees given by Congress,” Gehlot said in a post in Hindi on X.

    Elections for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held on November 25 and results be declared on December 3.

    In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that the prime minister has been taken aback by the popularity of the schemes of the Congress government in Rajasthan over the last five years. “Faced with the prospect of certain defeat, the Prime Minister has resorted to his usual FDI tactics – Fear, Deception and Intimidation, and has unleashed the ED on Congress leaders in the state,” he said.

    “This sort of vendetta politics and the politics of polarisation is all that the BJP stands for today. The people of Rajasthan will give a befitting reply to the Prime Minister and his party in the forthcoming elections,” Ramesh said.

    Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot alleged that the ED’s action against Congress leaders was “politically motivated” and an indication that the BJP is trailing in all five poll-bound states.

    Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Pilot said, “Elections are set to take place in Rajasthan in a few days from now and the Model Code of Conduct is in place but the timing, intent and objective of the government of India agencies’ action in various places in Rajasthan is suspicious.”

    The Congress is against corruption and in favour of action being taken if there is an impartial inquiry and any evidence is found, but the government is specifically targeting leaders without any facts seeing an “imminent defeat” of the BJP in the upcoming polls in Rajasthan, Pilot said.

    “This is to give a message that if the BJP becomes weaker politically it will misuse various agencies and intimidate people. The Congress opposes this…The BJP is trailing in all five states and today’s action is a clear indication of that,” he said.

    Slamming the ED’s action, Ashok Gehlot at a press conference in Jaipur said the BJP is unleashing “terror” in the country.

    He also said the ED swung into action after he announced two poll promises on Wednesday for women of the state. He said that five more promises were also going to be declared on Friday and dared the ED to find five more Congress leaders to take action. The chief minister also likened the ED action to a locust attack and said the ED raids would destroy BJP’s crops.

    Ashok Gehlot claimed that ED’s raids happen wherever elections are held.

    Be it Chhattisgarh, Karnataka or Himachal Pradesh, ED’s raids happened just before elections, the chief minister said. “Raids happened but the Congress won the elections. The situation is worrisome. They have unleashed terror in the country,” Gehlot said at the presser.

    Asserting that the Congress “will not be scared no matter how hard they try”, he alleged the BJP was targeting him through ED raids as they could not topple his government.

    “We will win the elections,” the chief minister asserted.

    Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also lashed out at the Union government over the ED’s action.

    “Just last week, Ashok Gehlot ji held a press conference in Delhi and raised questions on the role of central agencies in the elections. Today again, ED has become very active in Rajasthan. Modi ji, contest elections directly, stop taking the help of agencies,” Khera said in a post in Hindi on X.

    Ashok Gehlot last week alleged that the BJP-led Centre is misusing probe agencies to target opposition leaders even after the enforcement of the model code of conduct, and urged PM Modi and the Election Commission to intervene. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: Slamming the Centre over the ED’s action against its leaders in poll-bound Rajasthan, the Congress on Thursday alleged that faced with the prospect of “certain defeat”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resorted to tactics of “FDI – fear, deception and intimidation.”

    The party said people would give a befitting reply to the BJP for resorting to such tactics.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday raided the premises of Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and party candidate from the Mahua assembly seat as part of a money laundering investigation into the alleged exam paper leak case in the state, official sources said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    It also summoned Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case.

    Several Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, spoke out on the matter.

    Kharge alleged that agencies such as the ED, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax Department become the real ‘panna pramukh’ (party workers) of the BJP as soon as elections come.

    “Seeing its certain defeat in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party made its last throw of the dice! After Chhattisgarh, the ED has also entered the election campaign in Rajasthan and started action against Congress leaders,” Kharge said.

    “The dictatorship of the Modi government is fatal for democracy. We will continue to fight against the misuse of agencies, and the public will give a befitting reply to the BJP,” the Congress chief said in a post on X.

    Ashok Gehlot said that the Congress launched “guarantees” (poll promises) for women of Rajasthan on Wednesday and the ED’s action against Dotasra and Vaibhav Gehlot came just a day later.

    “Now you can understand what I have been saying…ED’s raids happen every day in Rajasthan because the BJP does not want women, farmers and poor in the state to get the benefit of the guarantees given by Congress,” Gehlot said in a post in Hindi on X.

    Elections for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held on November 25 and results be declared on December 3.

    In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that the prime minister has been taken aback by the popularity of the schemes of the Congress government in Rajasthan over the last five years. “Faced with the prospect of certain defeat, the Prime Minister has resorted to his usual FDI tactics – Fear, Deception and Intimidation, and has unleashed the ED on Congress leaders in the state,” he said.

    “This sort of vendetta politics and the politics of polarisation is all that the BJP stands for today. The people of Rajasthan will give a befitting reply to the Prime Minister and his party in the forthcoming elections,” Ramesh said.

    Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot alleged that the ED’s action against Congress leaders was “politically motivated” and an indication that the BJP is trailing in all five poll-bound states.

    Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Pilot said, “Elections are set to take place in Rajasthan in a few days from now and the Model Code of Conduct is in place but the timing, intent and objective of the government of India agencies’ action in various places in Rajasthan is suspicious.”

    The Congress is against corruption and in favour of action being taken if there is an impartial inquiry and any evidence is found, but the government is specifically targeting leaders without any facts seeing an “imminent defeat” of the BJP in the upcoming polls in Rajasthan, Pilot said.

    “This is to give a message that if the BJP becomes weaker politically it will misuse various agencies and intimidate people. The Congress opposes this…The BJP is trailing in all five states and today’s action is a clear indication of that,” he said.

    Slamming the ED’s action, Ashok Gehlot at a press conference in Jaipur said the BJP is unleashing “terror” in the country.

    He also said the ED swung into action after he announced two poll promises on Wednesday for women of the state. He said that five more promises were also going to be declared on Friday and dared the ED to find five more Congress leaders to take action. The chief minister also likened the ED action to a locust attack and said the ED raids would destroy BJP’s crops.

    Ashok Gehlot claimed that ED’s raids happen wherever elections are held.

    Be it Chhattisgarh, Karnataka or Himachal Pradesh, ED’s raids happened just before elections, the chief minister said. “Raids happened but the Congress won the elections. The situation is worrisome. They have unleashed terror in the country,” Gehlot said at the presser.

    Asserting that the Congress “will not be scared no matter how hard they try”, he alleged the BJP was targeting him through ED raids as they could not topple his government.

    “We will win the elections,” the chief minister asserted.

    Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also lashed out at the Union government over the ED’s action.

    “Just last week, Ashok Gehlot ji held a press conference in Delhi and raised questions on the role of central agencies in the elections. Today again, ED has become very active in Rajasthan. Modi ji, contest elections directly, stop taking the help of agencies,” Khera said in a post in Hindi on X.

    Ashok Gehlot last week alleged that the BJP-led Centre is misusing probe agencies to target opposition leaders even after the enforcement of the model code of conduct, and urged PM Modi and the Election Commission to intervene. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • After years of discord, Pilot, Gehlot bonhomie ahead of polls in Rajasthan

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: In the lead-up to the imminent assembly elections in Rajasthan, a sense of unity has emerged within the divided ranks of the Congress party.  

    The protracted tussle between former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, and CM Ashok Gehlot, which had persisted for the past four years, is now showing signs of abatement. 

    This significant shift in dynamics has become increasingly evident following Pilot’s recent inclusion in the CWC committee.  

    A notable outcome of this reconciliation has been the prominent appearance of Gehlot’s image across Pilot’s social media accounts, as well as on promotional materials related to Pilot’s initiatives. 

    Conversely, Gehlot has also taken to social media platforms to express his protest against comments made by the BJP concerning Sachin’s father, Rajesh Pilot.

    This newfound amicability between Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Gehlot holds the potential to reshape the landscape of the upcoming assembly elections.

    JAIPUR: In the lead-up to the imminent assembly elections in Rajasthan, a sense of unity has emerged within the divided ranks of the Congress party.  

    The protracted tussle between former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, and CM Ashok Gehlot, which had persisted for the past four years, is now showing signs of abatement. 

    This significant shift in dynamics has become increasingly evident following Pilot’s recent inclusion in the CWC committee.  googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    A notable outcome of this reconciliation has been the prominent appearance of Gehlot’s image across Pilot’s social media accounts, as well as on promotional materials related to Pilot’s initiatives. 

    Conversely, Gehlot has also taken to social media platforms to express his protest against comments made by the BJP concerning Sachin’s father, Rajesh Pilot.

    This newfound amicability between Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Gehlot holds the potential to reshape the landscape of the upcoming assembly elections.

  • Rajasthan CM Gehlot’s sacking of cabinet minister sparks a political row in poll-bound state

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: The dismissal of Rajasthan cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Gudha by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has ignited a huge controversy over the issue of women’s safety in the state.

    Gudha was dismissed on Friday after he questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    Following his dismissal, CM Gehlot held a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday but refrained from clarifying the reasons behind the minister’s removal.

    However, he staunchly defended his government’s record on law and order, particularly addressing the allegations of crimes against women. Gehlot said that comparing the situation in Rajasthan with that of Manipur, as alleged, is “unjustifiable.”

    When asked about the continuous criticism and protests against the government by Rajendra Gudha, who had been vocal about various issues, including law and order, CM Gehlot responded that this matter pertains to the party’s internal affairs and will be addressed after discussions within the party.

    It appears that the former minister had been challenging CM Gehlot’s government for several months, making provocative statements. However, his recent remarks during the assembly session seem to have triggered his dismissal from the government.

    Rajendra Gudha is among the six former BSP MLAs who switched to Congress in 2020. Though he was earlier in the Gehlot group, in the past year or so he had moved into the Sachin Pilot camp.

    Given his provocative remarks in the last few months, many believe that his recent actions indicate a desire to leave Congress before the upcoming elections. Notably, Rajendra Gudha’s repeated statements had been causing discomfort for the Ashok Gehlot government.

    However, experts also opine that Gudha himself may have orchestrated this situation to distance himself from the Gehlot government.

    Having contested three elections so far, Rajendra Gudha won two on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. Despite his victories, he joined the Congress along with other BSP MLAs on both occasions and held ministerial positions.

    Considering the caste and political dynamics of Gudha’s assembly seat, Udaipurwati, the former minister and his supporters are said to believe that it might be more suitable for him to contest elections with a third force rather than representing the Congress or BJP. His recent opposition to the Gehlot government just ahead of the elections indicates this possibility.

    Given that Gudha left the BSP after winning elections twice on their ticket, it might be challenging for the party to trust him for a third time.

    Consequently, he also held a meeting with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and there are speculations that he might contest the upcoming election from Owaisi’s party. Alternatively, he could consider running as an independent candidate. However, his immediate aim is to be expelled from the Congress.

    All eyes are now focused on what Gudha’s next course of action will be. It is likely that when Gudha addresses the Assembly on Monday, he will say something that leads to his expulsion from the party.

    JAIPUR: The dismissal of Rajasthan cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Gudha by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has ignited a huge controversy over the issue of women’s safety in the state.

    Gudha was dismissed on Friday after he questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    Following his dismissal, CM Gehlot held a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday but refrained from clarifying the reasons behind the minister’s removal.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    However, he staunchly defended his government’s record on law and order, particularly addressing the allegations of crimes against women. Gehlot said that comparing the situation in Rajasthan with that of Manipur, as alleged, is “unjustifiable.”

    When asked about the continuous criticism and protests against the government by Rajendra Gudha, who had been vocal about various issues, including law and order, CM Gehlot responded that this matter pertains to the party’s internal affairs and will be addressed after discussions within the party.

    It appears that the former minister had been challenging CM Gehlot’s government for several months, making provocative statements. However, his recent remarks during the assembly session seem to have triggered his dismissal from the government.

    Rajendra Gudha is among the six former BSP MLAs who switched to Congress in 2020. Though he was earlier in the Gehlot group, in the past year or so he had moved into the Sachin Pilot camp.

    Given his provocative remarks in the last few months, many believe that his recent actions indicate a desire to leave Congress before the upcoming elections. Notably, Rajendra Gudha’s repeated statements had been causing discomfort for the Ashok Gehlot government.

    However, experts also opine that Gudha himself may have orchestrated this situation to distance himself from the Gehlot government.

    Having contested three elections so far, Rajendra Gudha won two on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. Despite his victories, he joined the Congress along with other BSP MLAs on both occasions and held ministerial positions.

    Considering the caste and political dynamics of Gudha’s assembly seat, Udaipurwati, the former minister and his supporters are said to believe that it might be more suitable for him to contest elections with a third force rather than representing the Congress or BJP. His recent opposition to the Gehlot government just ahead of the elections indicates this possibility.

    Given that Gudha left the BSP after winning elections twice on their ticket, it might be challenging for the party to trust him for a third time.

    Consequently, he also held a meeting with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and there are speculations that he might contest the upcoming election from Owaisi’s party. Alternatively, he could consider running as an independent candidate. However, his immediate aim is to be expelled from the Congress.

    All eyes are now focused on what Gudha’s next course of action will be. It is likely that when Gudha addresses the Assembly on Monday, he will say something that leads to his expulsion from the party.

  • Rajasthan CM Gehlot sacks state minister Rajendra Gudha for his remarks on law and order

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday sacked Rajendra Gudha as minister of state, hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly.

    Gudha held charge as Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.

    A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said, “Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended Governor Kalraj Mishra to dismiss a member of the council of ministers Rajendra Gudha in the evening. The governor has accepted this recommendation with immediate effect.”

    Gudha on Friday questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    During the discussion on the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guaranteed Bill, 2023, in the Assembly, Congress MLAs waved placards on the Manipur violence.

    The protest, however, did not go down well with Gudha, who sought accountability from his own government on crimes against women.

    “The way we have failed to provide security to women in Rajasthan and atrocities on women have increased, instead of raising the issue of Manipur, we should introspect,” Gudha said in the assembly.

    Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore latched onto Gudha’s statement and slammed the state government, saying Rajasthan tops the chart for crimes against women.

    Rathore later asked Gehlot, who is also the home minister, to take responsibility for the “poor” state of law and order in Rajasthan.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal responded to the charges, saying that the state government has supplied the House with the statistics that show that the maximum number of atrocities were committed on women during BJP rule.

    Hours later, after a green signal from the party’s high command, Gehlot sent a recommendation to the governor to sack Gudha.

    Following his sacking, Gudha told reporters that he was punished for speaking the truth. “Rajasthan is at the number one position in crimes against women. What did I say? I got the punishment for speaking the truth,” he said.

    BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Meena sided with Gudha and said he spoke the truth in the assembly.

    “Law and order in Rajasthan has deteriorated and crimes against women have increased multifold. The minister had expressed what is true,” he said.

    Gudha, who is among six MLAs who won the 2018 assembly elections on a BSP ticket before defecting to the Congress in September 2019, was inducted as a minister in November 2021. He represents Jhunjhunu’s Udaipurwati constituency.

    Gudha and other MLAs who won on a BSP ticket had supported Gehlot in July 2020, during his tussle with his then-deputy Sachin Pilot, which had led to a political crisis.

    However, in the last few months, Gudha has made statements in favour of Pilot. He has also caused embarrassment to the Congress-led government with his recent statements.

    In a widely circulated video a few days ago, he was heard saying that Gehlot and Pilot were running after him, so there must be some quality in him.

    Gudha also launched a scathing attack on the Congress government and alleged that the dispensation had surpassed Karnataka’s “40 per cent commission BJP government” in corruption.

    While addressing a rally in support of Pilot in May, Gudha said, “Hamari sarkar ka alignment kharab ho gaya (our government’s alignment has been disturbed). The record of corruption has been broken. There was an issue of 40 per cent corruption in Karnataka. Our government has surpassed it,” he had said.

    He also met AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi during his recent visit to the state.

    Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the second day in a row on Friday following vociferous protests over the Manipur violence by opposition MPs.

    The Monsoon session started on Thursday, a day after a horrific video of two women being sexually assaulted and paraded by a mob on May 4 in a Manipur village went viral.

    ‘Sacked for telling the truth’

    The BJP on Friday accused Gehlot of sacking Gudha for telling the truth and added that “it shows how serious the ruling Congress is about the issue of crimes against women.”

    Reacting to the minister’s sacking, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said in a tweet in Hindi that Gehlot removed Gudha from his cabinet for telling “the truth.”

    “This shows how serious Congress is about harassment of women,” the BJP leader charged.

    Senior BJP leader and Union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat also targeted the Rajasthan chief minister and said in a tweet in Hindi, “Telling the truth is forbidden in Gehlot’s regime.”

    “The chief minister does not have the courage to accept the truth. When his minister Rajendra Gudha ji told the truth in the assembly, Gehlot ji felt so bad that he removed him from the post itself,” Shekhawat said. With this, Gehlot has warned his colleagues if they speak the truth, they will not be spared, the Union minister charged. “Intimidating one’s own comrades, gagging them will also be called oppression,” he added.

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday sacked Rajendra Gudha as minister of state, hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly.

    Gudha held charge as Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.

    A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said, “Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended Governor Kalraj Mishra to dismiss a member of the council of ministers Rajendra Gudha in the evening. The governor has accepted this recommendation with immediate effect.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Gudha on Friday questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    During the discussion on the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guaranteed Bill, 2023, in the Assembly, Congress MLAs waved placards on the Manipur violence.

    The protest, however, did not go down well with Gudha, who sought accountability from his own government on crimes against women.

    “The way we have failed to provide security to women in Rajasthan and atrocities on women have increased, instead of raising the issue of Manipur, we should introspect,” Gudha said in the assembly.

    Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore latched onto Gudha’s statement and slammed the state government, saying Rajasthan tops the chart for crimes against women.

    Rathore later asked Gehlot, who is also the home minister, to take responsibility for the “poor” state of law and order in Rajasthan.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal responded to the charges, saying that the state government has supplied the House with the statistics that show that the maximum number of atrocities were committed on women during BJP rule.

    Hours later, after a green signal from the party’s high command, Gehlot sent a recommendation to the governor to sack Gudha.

    Following his sacking, Gudha told reporters that he was punished for speaking the truth. “Rajasthan is at the number one position in crimes against women. What did I say? I got the punishment for speaking the truth,” he said.

    BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Meena sided with Gudha and said he spoke the truth in the assembly.

    “Law and order in Rajasthan has deteriorated and crimes against women have increased multifold. The minister had expressed what is true,” he said.

    Gudha, who is among six MLAs who won the 2018 assembly elections on a BSP ticket before defecting to the Congress in September 2019, was inducted as a minister in November 2021. He represents Jhunjhunu’s Udaipurwati constituency.

    Gudha and other MLAs who won on a BSP ticket had supported Gehlot in July 2020, during his tussle with his then-deputy Sachin Pilot, which had led to a political crisis.

    However, in the last few months, Gudha has made statements in favour of Pilot. He has also caused embarrassment to the Congress-led government with his recent statements.

    In a widely circulated video a few days ago, he was heard saying that Gehlot and Pilot were running after him, so there must be some quality in him.

    Gudha also launched a scathing attack on the Congress government and alleged that the dispensation had surpassed Karnataka’s “40 per cent commission BJP government” in corruption.

    While addressing a rally in support of Pilot in May, Gudha said, “Hamari sarkar ka alignment kharab ho gaya (our government’s alignment has been disturbed). The record of corruption has been broken. There was an issue of 40 per cent corruption in Karnataka. Our government has surpassed it,” he had said.

    He also met AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi during his recent visit to the state.

    Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the second day in a row on Friday following vociferous protests over the Manipur violence by opposition MPs.

    The Monsoon session started on Thursday, a day after a horrific video of two women being sexually assaulted and paraded by a mob on May 4 in a Manipur village went viral.

    ‘Sacked for telling the truth’

    The BJP on Friday accused Gehlot of sacking Gudha for telling the truth and added that “it shows how serious the ruling Congress is about the issue of crimes against women.”

    Reacting to the minister’s sacking, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said in a tweet in Hindi that Gehlot removed Gudha from his cabinet for telling “the truth.”

    “This shows how serious Congress is about harassment of women,” the BJP leader charged.

    Senior BJP leader and Union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat also targeted the Rajasthan chief minister and said in a tweet in Hindi, “Telling the truth is forbidden in Gehlot’s regime.”

    “The chief minister does not have the courage to accept the truth. When his minister Rajendra Gudha ji told the truth in the assembly, Gehlot ji felt so bad that he removed him from the post itself,” Shekhawat said. With this, Gehlot has warned his colleagues if they speak the truth, they will not be spared, the Union minister charged. “Intimidating one’s own comrades, gagging them will also be called oppression,” he added.

  • Congress rejects reports of Sachin Pilot floating new party in lead up to Rajasthan polls

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Congress general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of dissident leader Sachin Pilot floating a new party.

    Randhawa, who reached Jaipur in the evening, also said that the party will assign responsibilities to Rajasthan leaders according to their stature.

    “I am hearing this from you, I think there is no such thing. He (Pilot) did not have this in his mind before and does not have it now,” he told reporters when asked about speculations of the formation of a new party by Pilot.

    Randhawa also said it is the media which is raising the issue. He reiterated that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had recently talked to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Delhi in which both the Rajasthan leaders “agreed to work unitedly.”

    “Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi listened to both of them carefully and both were told that they are the assets of the Congress…Both said that they will work together,” he said.

    Randhawa said that 90 per cent of the matter was resolved and the rest was also not an issue.

    When asked about the “formula” to broker peace between Gehlot and Pilot, Randhawa said he will not share it with the media.  However, he said that both Gehlot and Pilot know about the formula.

    On the party’s plan to give responsibility to Pilot, Randhawa said, “We will definitely do it for everyone and will decide the responsibility of leaders according to their stature.”

    Gehlot and his former deputy Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in Rajasthan in 2018 and the party is seeking to broker peace between the two ahead of the assembly elections in the state, slated for later this year.

    There is intense speculation that Pilot may give a clear indication on his way forward on June 11 when he marks his father’s death anniversary in Dausa.

    JAIPUR: Congress general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of dissident leader Sachin Pilot floating a new party.

    Randhawa, who reached Jaipur in the evening, also said that the party will assign responsibilities to Rajasthan leaders according to their stature.

    “I am hearing this from you, I think there is no such thing. He (Pilot) did not have this in his mind before and does not have it now,” he told reporters when asked about speculations of the formation of a new party by Pilot.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Randhawa also said it is the media which is raising the issue. He reiterated that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had recently talked to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Delhi in which both the Rajasthan leaders “agreed to work unitedly.”

    “Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi listened to both of them carefully and both were told that they are the assets of the Congress…Both said that they will work together,” he said.

    Randhawa said that 90 per cent of the matter was resolved and the rest was also not an issue.

    When asked about the “formula” to broker peace between Gehlot and Pilot, Randhawa said he will not share it with the media.  However, he said that both Gehlot and Pilot know about the formula.

    On the party’s plan to give responsibility to Pilot, Randhawa said, “We will definitely do it for everyone and will decide the responsibility of leaders according to their stature.”

    Gehlot and his former deputy Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in Rajasthan in 2018 and the party is seeking to broker peace between the two ahead of the assembly elections in the state, slated for later this year.

    There is intense speculation that Pilot may give a clear indication on his way forward on June 11 when he marks his father’s death anniversary in Dausa.

  • PM Modi claims Opposition insulted country’s sentiments by boycotting Parliament inauguration

    By PTI

    AJMER: In his first remarks on the Congress-led Opposition boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said they “insulted” the sentiment of the country and the hard work of 60,000 labourers.

    “India got a new Parliament building three days back. I ask you whether you are proud of it or not. Did you feel the joy on the increase in India’s prestige? The Congress and some parties like it hurled muck of politics on this too,” he said at a rally in Ajmer.

    Modi also said the Congress is a party that took “85 per cent commission”, and referred to a statement by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi that when his government sent one rupee only 15 paise would reach the intended beneficiary.

    The Congress and 20 other parties boycotted the inauguration of the new Parliament building by the prime minister on Sunday, saying it was an insult to President Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman, that she was not invited by the government to do the honours.

    Referring to the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Modi said such opportunities come once in generations, but the Congress used this for its “selfish protest.”

    “They insulted the hard work of 60,000 (Shramjivis) labourers and the sentiment of the country,” he said, adding that Congress is unable to digest the progress India is making.

    Modi alleged the main Opposition party is angry because a “son of the poor” is not allowing it to do what it wants and is “raising questions on their corruption and parivarwad (dynastic politics).”

    The prime minister accused the Congress of following a policy of misleading the poor and keeping them deprived during its rule.

    “Fifty years ago, Congress guaranteed that it will remove poverty. But it turned out to be their biggest betrayal to the poor. It has been a policy of the Congress to mislead the poor and keep them deprived. The people of Rajasthan have also suffered a lot due to this.”

    The rally marked the start of a series of BJP public meetings over a month in a major outreach campaign as the party completes nine years in power at the Centre.

    The Congress-run Rajasthan goes to the polls this year-end.

    Before addressing the rally at Kayad Vishram Sthali on the Jaipur-Ajmer Road, Modi offered prayers at the Brahma temple in Pushkar.

    The nine years of the BJP government were dedicated to the service of people, good governance, and welfare of the poor, Modi said.

    Before 2014, he said, people were on the streets against corruption, terror attacks rocked major cities, crimes against women were rising, policies were in disarray, investors were disappointed and there was a “superpower” over the then-prime minister and his government was being run by remote control.

    During its rule, the Congress developed a corrupt system that “sucked the country’s blood”, he said.

    Now, the prime minister said, people across the world are talking about India, and experts are saying India is very close to ending extreme poverty.

    “Behind every success the country achieves, there is sweat of the people of India. The determination shown by every Indian to take the country forward is unique, but some people are not able to digest this,” he said.

    “When it comes to loot, the Congress does not discriminate against anyone. The Congress loots every citizen of the country equally be it poor, Dalit, oppressed, tribals, minorities, women or youths,” he said.

    There has never been a dearth of money for development work in the country, the prime minister said.

    “It is important that the money sent for development work is fully used in the work but the Congress had developed a corrupt system which was hollowing out the country,” he said.

    Development accomplished under the last nine years has been possible as the BJP government eliminated the path of loot the Congress carved, Modi said, adding had the grand old party been in power such achievement was not possible.

    He said the general vaccination campaign run under the Congress government is an example of how the party “played with the lives” of crores of women and children.

    “When the Congress government was in power, the vaccination coverage in the country was just about 60 per cent. At that time, 40 out of 100 pregnant women and children could not get life saving vaccines.”

    “Had the Congress government been there, it would have taken another 40 years for 100 per cent vaccination coverage. How many generations would have passed? A large number of poor women and children would have to lose their lives,” he said.

    He said only 14 crore people had gas connections before 2014, and at that rate, it would have taken another 20 years to cover the entire country.

    But this situation was not acceptable to him, and therefore, the PM said, he ensured 19 crore gas connections are given in just nine years.

    He made similar comparisons for other schemes as well.

    He said that his government gave One Rank One Pension to soldiers, while the Congress “betrayed” brave soldiers over the issue. The OROP would not have seen the light of day if the Congress were in power, he said.

    Attacking the state government, he said people gave a mandate to the Congress but the chief minister, his ministers and MLAs are busy fighting among themselves, and there is instability and anarchy.

    “The Congress in Rajasthan is not worried about the public. Crime is at its peak. People cannot celebrate festivals peacefully. The government has drowned in appeasement of terrorism,” he said.

    He also alleged the Congress government has given a free hand to those who do not care about the interests of their daughters.

    “In nine years, the BJP government paid attention to every problem related to mothers and sisters,” he said, highlighting women’s welfare schemes of his government.

    Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Kailash Chaudhary, Gajendra Singh, BJP state president CP Joshi, his predecessor Satish Poonia, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore and other leaders were also present on the stage.

    Modi began his 40-minute address by paying tributes to deities people in the area revere such as including Tejaji, Lord Devnarayan, Diggi Kalyan, Mata Shakambhari, Khoda Ganeshji. He said Ajmer has been home to sages and also houses the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.

    This was the second visit of Modi to Rajasthan in less than a month. Earlier this month, Modi visited Rajsamand and Sirohi districts.

    AJMER: In his first remarks on the Congress-led Opposition boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said they “insulted” the sentiment of the country and the hard work of 60,000 labourers.

    “India got a new Parliament building three days back. I ask you whether you are proud of it or not. Did you feel the joy on the increase in India’s prestige? The Congress and some parties like it hurled muck of politics on this too,” he said at a rally in Ajmer.

    Modi also said the Congress is a party that took “85 per cent commission”, and referred to a statement by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi that when his government sent one rupee only 15 paise would reach the intended beneficiary.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Congress and 20 other parties boycotted the inauguration of the new Parliament building by the prime minister on Sunday, saying it was an insult to President Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman, that she was not invited by the government to do the honours.

    Referring to the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Modi said such opportunities come once in generations, but the Congress used this for its “selfish protest.”

    “They insulted the hard work of 60,000 (Shramjivis) labourers and the sentiment of the country,” he said, adding that Congress is unable to digest the progress India is making.

    Modi alleged the main Opposition party is angry because a “son of the poor” is not allowing it to do what it wants and is “raising questions on their corruption and parivarwad (dynastic politics).”

    The prime minister accused the Congress of following a policy of misleading the poor and keeping them deprived during its rule.

    “Fifty years ago, Congress guaranteed that it will remove poverty. But it turned out to be their biggest betrayal to the poor. It has been a policy of the Congress to mislead the poor and keep them deprived. The people of Rajasthan have also suffered a lot due to this.”

    The rally marked the start of a series of BJP public meetings over a month in a major outreach campaign as the party completes nine years in power at the Centre.

    The Congress-run Rajasthan goes to the polls this year-end.

    Before addressing the rally at Kayad Vishram Sthali on the Jaipur-Ajmer Road, Modi offered prayers at the Brahma temple in Pushkar.

    The nine years of the BJP government were dedicated to the service of people, good governance, and welfare of the poor, Modi said.

    Before 2014, he said, people were on the streets against corruption, terror attacks rocked major cities, crimes against women were rising, policies were in disarray, investors were disappointed and there was a “superpower” over the then-prime minister and his government was being run by remote control.

    During its rule, the Congress developed a corrupt system that “sucked the country’s blood”, he said.

    Now, the prime minister said, people across the world are talking about India, and experts are saying India is very close to ending extreme poverty.

    “Behind every success the country achieves, there is sweat of the people of India. The determination shown by every Indian to take the country forward is unique, but some people are not able to digest this,” he said.

    “When it comes to loot, the Congress does not discriminate against anyone. The Congress loots every citizen of the country equally be it poor, Dalit, oppressed, tribals, minorities, women or youths,” he said.

    There has never been a dearth of money for development work in the country, the prime minister said.

    “It is important that the money sent for development work is fully used in the work but the Congress had developed a corrupt system which was hollowing out the country,” he said.

    Development accomplished under the last nine years has been possible as the BJP government eliminated the path of loot the Congress carved, Modi said, adding had the grand old party been in power such achievement was not possible.

    He said the general vaccination campaign run under the Congress government is an example of how the party “played with the lives” of crores of women and children.

    “When the Congress government was in power, the vaccination coverage in the country was just about 60 per cent. At that time, 40 out of 100 pregnant women and children could not get life saving vaccines.”

    “Had the Congress government been there, it would have taken another 40 years for 100 per cent vaccination coverage. How many generations would have passed? A large number of poor women and children would have to lose their lives,” he said.

    He said only 14 crore people had gas connections before 2014, and at that rate, it would have taken another 20 years to cover the entire country.

    But this situation was not acceptable to him, and therefore, the PM said, he ensured 19 crore gas connections are given in just nine years.

    He made similar comparisons for other schemes as well.

    He said that his government gave One Rank One Pension to soldiers, while the Congress “betrayed” brave soldiers over the issue. The OROP would not have seen the light of day if the Congress were in power, he said.

    Attacking the state government, he said people gave a mandate to the Congress but the chief minister, his ministers and MLAs are busy fighting among themselves, and there is instability and anarchy.

    “The Congress in Rajasthan is not worried about the public. Crime is at its peak. People cannot celebrate festivals peacefully. The government has drowned in appeasement of terrorism,” he said.

    He also alleged the Congress government has given a free hand to those who do not care about the interests of their daughters.

    “In nine years, the BJP government paid attention to every problem related to mothers and sisters,” he said, highlighting women’s welfare schemes of his government.

    Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Kailash Chaudhary, Gajendra Singh, BJP state president CP Joshi, his predecessor Satish Poonia, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore and other leaders were also present on the stage.

    Modi began his 40-minute address by paying tributes to deities people in the area revere such as including Tejaji, Lord Devnarayan, Diggi Kalyan, Mata Shakambhari, Khoda Ganeshji. He said Ajmer has been home to sages and also houses the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.

    This was the second visit of Modi to Rajasthan in less than a month. Earlier this month, Modi visited Rajsamand and Sirohi districts.

  • Congress projects unity in Rajasthan, says Gehlot, Pilot will fight assembly poll together

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Amid a festering leadership tussle in the Congress’ Rajasthan unit, the party Monday said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot have agreed to fight the upcoming assembly elections unitedly and have left all issues to be resolved by the party high command.

    Top Congress leadership led by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi held marathon discussions with Gehlot and Pilot joined them later in the evening.

    The Congress’ in-charge of state affairs Sukhjinder Randhawa was also present at the meeting.

    The party sought to project that all was fine in its Rajasthan unit with sources claiming that the party has worked out a formula for both the state leaders to work together and fight the assembly elections unitedly.

    Addressing reporters after the meeting at Kharge’s 10, Rajaji Marg, residence, party general secretary K C Venugopal said both the leaders held lengthy discussions with Kharge and Gandhi about the upcoming Rajasthan election.

    “We have decided to fight the election unitedly. Both are in agreement that the Congress party has to work together and definitely we will win the election in Rajasthan,” he said, flanked by Gehlot and Pilot.

    “It is very clear that Rajasthan is going to be a strong state for the Congress party. We are going to win. Therefore, both Gehlot ji and Sachin ji have decided to go together. The Congress party will fight elections unitedly,” Venugopal said.

    “Both the leaders Ashok ji and Sachin ji agreed to the proposal on these things,” he also said.

    Asked what proposal he was talking out, Venugopal said, “Both have left it to the (party) high command. The high command will take the decision and both have agreed.”

    On what formula has been decided, he said, “We decided that both the leaders have agreed to go together and it will be a joint fight against the BJP. We will win the state.”

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh later tweeted, “The Congress party is well on its way to repeating its Karnataka success in Rajasthan as well.”

    Later in a tweet, Venugopal said, “Our team in Rajasthan will unitedly fight the 2023 elections and break the decades-long tradition of alternating governments by registering a thumping victory!”

    Pilot has been attacking the Gehlot government over the issue of inaction on alleged corruption during the previous BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje and has been vocal against his own party’s chief minister. This was the first time after a long gap that the Rajasthan chief minister and his former deputy met face-to-face in the presence of top party leadership.

    Kharge and Gandhi are holding parleys with leaders of poll-bound states to evolve the party’s strategy for the assembly elections and corner the BJP.

    The party leadership is also working hard to resolve the infighting in the Rajasthan unit ahead of assembly polls and set at rest the differences between the two leaders.

    The Congress top brass held discussions with top party leaders from Madhya Pradesh in the morning, after which Gandhi said the party would win 150 seats in the state.

    The meeting comes close on the heels of Pilot’s “ultimatum” that if three demands he made from the state government were not met by the end of this month, he would launch a state-wide agitation.

    One of Pilot’s demands was initiating a high-level inquiry into the alleged scams during the Vasundhara Raje government.

    Speaking to reporters earlier, Gehlot said there is no such tradition in the party to offer posts to any leader in order to pacify him.

    “As far as I know, there is no such tradition in the Congress where any leader demands something and the party high command offers to give that position. We have not heard of such a formula ever,” he said when asked about reports of a formula being worked out to rope in Pilot.

    Rubbishing such reports, he said, “Never has such a thing happened in the Congress so far and neither will it happen in the future. The Congress party and the high command are very strong and no leader or worker has the courage to demand any position. It does not happen like that.”

    Gehlot and Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in the state in 2018.

    In 2020, Pilot led a failed revolt against the Gehlot government after which he was removed from the posts of the party’s state unit president and deputy chief minister.

    Pilot had last month defied a warning from the party and went ahead with a day-long fast targeting Gehlot over his “inaction” on alleged corruption during the previous Raje government.

    NEW DELHI: Amid a festering leadership tussle in the Congress’ Rajasthan unit, the party Monday said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot have agreed to fight the upcoming assembly elections unitedly and have left all issues to be resolved by the party high command.

    Top Congress leadership led by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi held marathon discussions with Gehlot and Pilot joined them later in the evening.

    The Congress’ in-charge of state affairs Sukhjinder Randhawa was also present at the meeting.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The party sought to project that all was fine in its Rajasthan unit with sources claiming that the party has worked out a formula for both the state leaders to work together and fight the assembly elections unitedly.

    Addressing reporters after the meeting at Kharge’s 10, Rajaji Marg, residence, party general secretary K C Venugopal said both the leaders held lengthy discussions with Kharge and Gandhi about the upcoming Rajasthan election.

    “We have decided to fight the election unitedly. Both are in agreement that the Congress party has to work together and definitely we will win the election in Rajasthan,” he said, flanked by Gehlot and Pilot.

    “It is very clear that Rajasthan is going to be a strong state for the Congress party. We are going to win. Therefore, both Gehlot ji and Sachin ji have decided to go together. The Congress party will fight elections unitedly,” Venugopal said.

    “Both the leaders Ashok ji and Sachin ji agreed to the proposal on these things,” he also said.

    Asked what proposal he was talking out, Venugopal said, “Both have left it to the (party) high command. The high command will take the decision and both have agreed.”

    On what formula has been decided, he said, “We decided that both the leaders have agreed to go together and it will be a joint fight against the BJP. We will win the state.”

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh later tweeted, “The Congress party is well on its way to repeating its Karnataka success in Rajasthan as well.”

    Later in a tweet, Venugopal said, “Our team in Rajasthan will unitedly fight the 2023 elections and break the decades-long tradition of alternating governments by registering a thumping victory!”

    Pilot has been attacking the Gehlot government over the issue of inaction on alleged corruption during the previous BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje and has been vocal against his own party’s chief minister. This was the first time after a long gap that the Rajasthan chief minister and his former deputy met face-to-face in the presence of top party leadership.

    Kharge and Gandhi are holding parleys with leaders of poll-bound states to evolve the party’s strategy for the assembly elections and corner the BJP.

    The party leadership is also working hard to resolve the infighting in the Rajasthan unit ahead of assembly polls and set at rest the differences between the two leaders.

    The Congress top brass held discussions with top party leaders from Madhya Pradesh in the morning, after which Gandhi said the party would win 150 seats in the state.

    The meeting comes close on the heels of Pilot’s “ultimatum” that if three demands he made from the state government were not met by the end of this month, he would launch a state-wide agitation.

    One of Pilot’s demands was initiating a high-level inquiry into the alleged scams during the Vasundhara Raje government.

    Speaking to reporters earlier, Gehlot said there is no such tradition in the party to offer posts to any leader in order to pacify him.

    “As far as I know, there is no such tradition in the Congress where any leader demands something and the party high command offers to give that position. We have not heard of such a formula ever,” he said when asked about reports of a formula being worked out to rope in Pilot.

    Rubbishing such reports, he said, “Never has such a thing happened in the Congress so far and neither will it happen in the future. The Congress party and the high command are very strong and no leader or worker has the courage to demand any position. It does not happen like that.”

    Gehlot and Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in the state in 2018.

    In 2020, Pilot led a failed revolt against the Gehlot government after which he was removed from the posts of the party’s state unit president and deputy chief minister.

    Pilot had last month defied a warning from the party and went ahead with a day-long fast targeting Gehlot over his “inaction” on alleged corruption during the previous Raje government.

  • Sachin Pilot compares Rajasthan with Karnataka, asks Gehlot govt to fulfil promise on ‘corruption’

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday cited his party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls to push for action by the Ashok Gehlot government over alleged corruption during the previous BJP rule in Rajasthan.

    As the assembly polls approach in Rajasthan, the former deputy chief minister mounted pressure on Chief Minister Gehlot and the party’s top leadership with a five-day yatra which ended Monday with a big rally in Jaipur.

    In an effort to corner Gehlot, Pilot has been demanding action over accusations of corruption made by the Congress ahead of the Rajasthan polls in 2018.

    In an interview with PTI before the Jaipur rally, he compared the situation now in Karnataka, where the Congress has swept the assembly polls, with that in Rajasthan in 2018.

    “We levelled allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka. The Congress has got a mandate there and if no action against corruption by the (BJP’s) Bommai government is taken, will people listen to us after five years?” he said.

    “This is the situation here in Rajasthan. So I want action taken on this,” he added.

    Pilot’s argument is that the Congress levelled corruption charges against the BJP government of Vasundhara Raje ahead of the 2018 elections, and people expected it to act on the issue once it came to power.

    He asked how he could be wrong in talking about corruption that took place during the term of the previous BJP government in the state.

    Pilot, who is locked in a leadership tussle with Gehlot in the state, said he will continue to raise the issue in the future as well.

    At the rally later, he was more categorical.

    He threatened to launch a major agitation if his demands are not met by the month-end.

    About 15 Congress MLAs shared the dais with him in the show of strength.

    In 2018 the party’s top leadership faced in Rajasthan a dilemma of the kind it encounters in Karnataka where it is forced to pick between two CM aspirants — D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.

    The party had then gone with Gehlot, disappointing Pilot who claimed to have led the Congress to victory as the president of the state unit.

    Pilot said when Gehlot was given the opportunity by the party to run the state government for the first time in 1998 he was just 47 or 48 years old, and veteran Congress leaders of that time followed the party discipline.

    Pilot (45) was possibly alluding to the argument that he is too young to become the chief minister.

    He also criticised Gehlot loyalist and minister Shanti Dhariwal’s recent remark that the CM has shown several big leaders their place.

    Reacting to Gehlot’s recent remark that he never boasted about how he won 156 seats for the Congress in 1998, Pilot said no one can boast or take credit for something like this.

    It is the party that contests elections and votes are given on policies and principles, he said.

    When asked about the state government schemes, Pilot said, “A good budget comes, good announcements are made, good policy is made. But why don’t we get the votes? It is the reality and the bitter truth.”

    He said he has raised several issues on party platforms to ensure this doesn’t happen in the coming Rajasthan elections.

    Pilot has been asking the party to resolve “issues” he had raised in 2020 when he and 18 other Congress MLAs revolted against Gehlot’s leadership.

    When asked about reports that he has decided to quit the Congress if issues concerning him are not addressed, Pilot called it speculation created by the media.

    He said the Congress party got huge support in the 2018 elections on the promise that it will take action on “corruption” by the then Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.

    But no action was taken, he said.

    So he wrote letters to the CM for one and a half years, and then held a one-day fast in Jaipur last month.

    On party leaders calling his foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur a “personal” yatra, the leader said the issues raised by him got huge support from the public.

    “People are coming together on these issues despite the scorching heat, they are walking with me. The support one can see on the road is the support for the issues which I am raising,” he said.

    At the rally, he gave the Gehlot government an ultimatum to agree to three demands, including a high-level probe into “corruption” by the BJP government.

    The dissident leader also demanded the reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) over exam paper leaks, and compensation for aspirants who suffered due to this.

    JAIPUR: Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday cited his party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls to push for action by the Ashok Gehlot government over alleged corruption during the previous BJP rule in Rajasthan.

    As the assembly polls approach in Rajasthan, the former deputy chief minister mounted pressure on Chief Minister Gehlot and the party’s top leadership with a five-day yatra which ended Monday with a big rally in Jaipur.

    In an effort to corner Gehlot, Pilot has been demanding action over accusations of corruption made by the Congress ahead of the Rajasthan polls in 2018.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In an interview with PTI before the Jaipur rally, he compared the situation now in Karnataka, where the Congress has swept the assembly polls, with that in Rajasthan in 2018.

    “We levelled allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka. The Congress has got a mandate there and if no action against corruption by the (BJP’s) Bommai government is taken, will people listen to us after five years?” he said.

    “This is the situation here in Rajasthan. So I want action taken on this,” he added.

    Pilot’s argument is that the Congress levelled corruption charges against the BJP government of Vasundhara Raje ahead of the 2018 elections, and people expected it to act on the issue once it came to power.

    He asked how he could be wrong in talking about corruption that took place during the term of the previous BJP government in the state.

    Pilot, who is locked in a leadership tussle with Gehlot in the state, said he will continue to raise the issue in the future as well.

    At the rally later, he was more categorical.

    He threatened to launch a major agitation if his demands are not met by the month-end.

    About 15 Congress MLAs shared the dais with him in the show of strength.

    In 2018 the party’s top leadership faced in Rajasthan a dilemma of the kind it encounters in Karnataka where it is forced to pick between two CM aspirants — D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.

    The party had then gone with Gehlot, disappointing Pilot who claimed to have led the Congress to victory as the president of the state unit.

    Pilot said when Gehlot was given the opportunity by the party to run the state government for the first time in 1998 he was just 47 or 48 years old, and veteran Congress leaders of that time followed the party discipline.

    Pilot (45) was possibly alluding to the argument that he is too young to become the chief minister.

    He also criticised Gehlot loyalist and minister Shanti Dhariwal’s recent remark that the CM has shown several big leaders their place.

    Reacting to Gehlot’s recent remark that he never boasted about how he won 156 seats for the Congress in 1998, Pilot said no one can boast or take credit for something like this.

    It is the party that contests elections and votes are given on policies and principles, he said.

    When asked about the state government schemes, Pilot said, “A good budget comes, good announcements are made, good policy is made. But why don’t we get the votes? It is the reality and the bitter truth.”

    He said he has raised several issues on party platforms to ensure this doesn’t happen in the coming Rajasthan elections.

    Pilot has been asking the party to resolve “issues” he had raised in 2020 when he and 18 other Congress MLAs revolted against Gehlot’s leadership.

    When asked about reports that he has decided to quit the Congress if issues concerning him are not addressed, Pilot called it speculation created by the media.

    He said the Congress party got huge support in the 2018 elections on the promise that it will take action on “corruption” by the then Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.

    But no action was taken, he said.

    So he wrote letters to the CM for one and a half years, and then held a one-day fast in Jaipur last month.

    On party leaders calling his foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur a “personal” yatra, the leader said the issues raised by him got huge support from the public.

    “People are coming together on these issues despite the scorching heat, they are walking with me. The support one can see on the road is the support for the issues which I am raising,” he said.

    At the rally, he gave the Gehlot government an ultimatum to agree to three demands, including a high-level probe into “corruption” by the BJP government.

    The dissident leader also demanded the reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) over exam paper leaks, and compensation for aspirants who suffered due to this.

  • Sachin Pilot says will continue to protest graft during former CM Raje’s regime

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR:  Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot has asserted he will continue with his agitation for action against the corruption of the previous BJP government.

    Speaking to the media in Jaipur on Sunday, Pilot said he will not back down from the stand he has taken against the state Congress government and has been “politely requesting” it to take action in corruption cases of the previous BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje.

    Pilot also remarked that despite his fast on April 11, no action has been taken in these cases. “Speaking the truth, raising voice against corruption and injustice, is among the values of the Congress party. Following these values, I observed a one-day fast on April 11. Today, it’s been two weeks, no action has been taken so far. So, again I politely request the government to fulfil the promises we had made to the people,” Pilot told reporters after offering prayers at Jaipur’s famous  Jharkhand Temple on Sunday.

    Pilot added that he greatly welcomes the action taken by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which arrested several corrupt IAS, IPS, RAS and other officers. 

    He further said, “the chief minister himself had said that ACB is active and has raided several corrupt officers, which we all welcome. But, when he had come to power after being in opposition for five years, we never said that we would arrest a patwari or officer. We had said we will take action in the corruption cases that happened in Vasundhara Ji’s tenure.”

    ALSO READ | ‘We are all united’: Rajasthan Congress chief on Gehlot-Pilot issue

    Significantly, Pilot wondered how demanding action against corruption is being termed as an ‘anti-party activity’. Instead, he said that the September 25 incident when pro-Gehlot MLAs had boycotted the CLP meeting in Jaipur, was a virtual rebellion against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the real damage to the party was due to that action of the MLAs last year.

    Pilot also raised questions over the inaction against the pro-Gehlot leaders who had defied the party’s high command in September 2022.

    “It is true that the incident that took place on September 25 was an open violation of the orders of our Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken were openly insulted. Why hasn’t action been taken against them yet? The answer lies with the party,” Pilot remarked as he once again asserted.

    Pilot also argued that it was unfair to call his fast ‘anti-party’ and said “this is the first time that even before an event took place, it was declared so.

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

    JAIPUR:  Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot has asserted he will continue with his agitation for action against the corruption of the previous BJP government.

    Speaking to the media in Jaipur on Sunday, Pilot said he will not back down from the stand he has taken against the state Congress government and has been “politely requesting” it to take action in corruption cases of the previous BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje.

    Pilot also remarked that despite his fast on April 11, no action has been taken in these cases. “Speaking the truth, raising voice against corruption and injustice, is among the values of the Congress party. Following these values, I observed a one-day fast on April 11. Today, it’s been two weeks, no action has been taken so far. So, again I politely request the government to fulfil the promises we had made to the people,” Pilot told reporters after offering prayers at Jaipur’s famous  Jharkhand Temple on Sunday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Pilot added that he greatly welcomes the action taken by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which arrested several corrupt IAS, IPS, RAS and other officers. 

    He further said, “the chief minister himself had said that ACB is active and has raided several corrupt officers, which we all welcome. But, when he had come to power after being in opposition for five years, we never said that we would arrest a patwari or officer. We had said we will take action in the corruption cases that happened in Vasundhara Ji’s tenure.”

    ALSO READ | ‘We are all united’: Rajasthan Congress chief on Gehlot-Pilot issue

    Significantly, Pilot wondered how demanding action against corruption is being termed as an ‘anti-party activity’. Instead, he said that the September 25 incident when pro-Gehlot MLAs had boycotted the CLP meeting in Jaipur, was a virtual rebellion against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the real damage to the party was due to that action of the MLAs last year.

    Pilot also raised questions over the inaction against the pro-Gehlot leaders who had defied the party’s high command in September 2022.

    “It is true that the incident that took place on September 25 was an open violation of the orders of our Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken were openly insulted. Why hasn’t action been taken against them yet? The answer lies with the party,” Pilot remarked as he once again asserted.

    Pilot also argued that it was unfair to call his fast ‘anti-party’ and said “this is the first time that even before an event took place, it was declared so.

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

  • ‘We are all united’: Rajasthan Congress chief on Gehlot-Pilot issue

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara on Friday downplayed the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, saying “We are all united”.

    He also said if a leader is not found popular in his constituency in the party’s pre-poll survey, he should not get a ticket even if it is him.

    “I am a man of the organisation and will take all people of the organisation along. Today, I can say that we are all united and are strengthening the Congress,” he told reporters here.

    “Pilot has already said that he has conveyed his point to the high command and at the same time, the AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has also conveyed his point to the high command,” the PCC chief said.

    “Then a third person should not comment on this.”

    On the chances of a Cabinet reshuffle before elections, he said, “This is the prerogative of the chief minister, but there are always possibilities.”

    On the allotment of tickets in elections, he said the party would give chances to those who are popular among the public. “Those who go among them and serve them will get the ticket.”

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

    The state assembly elections are due later this year.

    Last week, Pilot opened a front against chief minister Gehlot.

    Pilot said the Congress raised the issue of corruption when the party was in opposition during the BJP rule — from 2013 to 2018 — and promised in the 2018 assembly polls that action would be taken in the matter if the party forms the government in Rajasthan. However, no action was taken in over four years of the Congress government, he added.

    On this issue, he held a day-long dharna at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur last week.

    AICC in charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa called it an act against the party discipline. He also said that Pilot, who is an MLA, should have raised his demand for action in corruption cases in the Rajasthan Assembly, instead of holding the fast.

    With just a few months left for the assembly elections, the party held a one-on-one dialogue with MLAs and those who are supporting it and held a one-day workshop this week. Pilot skipped these programmes.

    However, on Thursday he went to a dharna here led by BJP’s Rajya Sabah MP Kirodi Lal Meena with the family members of a man who committed suicide, blaming Cabinet minister Mahesh Joshi and others for the extreme step. He demanded a fair investigation in the case.

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara on Friday downplayed the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, saying “We are all united”.

    He also said if a leader is not found popular in his constituency in the party’s pre-poll survey, he should not get a ticket even if it is him.

    “I am a man of the organisation and will take all people of the organisation along. Today, I can say that we are all united and are strengthening the Congress,” he told reporters here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Pilot has already said that he has conveyed his point to the high command and at the same time, the AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has also conveyed his point to the high command,” the PCC chief said.

    “Then a third person should not comment on this.”

    On the chances of a Cabinet reshuffle before elections, he said, “This is the prerogative of the chief minister, but there are always possibilities.”

    On the allotment of tickets in elections, he said the party would give chances to those who are popular among the public. “Those who go among them and serve them will get the ticket.”

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

    The state assembly elections are due later this year.

    Last week, Pilot opened a front against chief minister Gehlot.

    Pilot said the Congress raised the issue of corruption when the party was in opposition during the BJP rule — from 2013 to 2018 — and promised in the 2018 assembly polls that action would be taken in the matter if the party forms the government in Rajasthan. However, no action was taken in over four years of the Congress government, he added.

    On this issue, he held a day-long dharna at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur last week.

    AICC in charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa called it an act against the party discipline. He also said that Pilot, who is an MLA, should have raised his demand for action in corruption cases in the Rajasthan Assembly, instead of holding the fast.

    With just a few months left for the assembly elections, the party held a one-on-one dialogue with MLAs and those who are supporting it and held a one-day workshop this week. Pilot skipped these programmes.

    However, on Thursday he went to a dharna here led by BJP’s Rajya Sabah MP Kirodi Lal Meena with the family members of a man who committed suicide, blaming Cabinet minister Mahesh Joshi and others for the extreme step. He demanded a fair investigation in the case.