In Chittorgarh, PM Modi's all-out attack on Ashok Gehlot govt: ‘Destroyed Rajasthan’
Addressing a public rally at Chittorgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Rajasthan has decided to save the state by bringing back the BJP government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday came down heavily on the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan and accused it of destroying the state in the past five years.
Addressing a public rally at Chittorgarh in the poll-bound state, Modi said, "The Congress government in Rajasthan has destroyed the state in the past five years. It pains me that the state tops in crime list... The maximum number of cases of crime against women are from Rajasthan... Is this why you voted for the Congress?"
Modi said Rajasthan has decided to save the state by bringing back the BJP government.
Speaking on the alleged paper leak in Rajasthan, Modi said the mafia will be held accountable and given the “harshest punishment”.
Taking a dig at the Rajasthan Congress infighting, Modi said, "The Congress successfully formed a government by deceiving the people of Rajasthan. However, they failed to run the government. Ashok Gehlot had been saving his chief ministerial chair, whereas half of the Congress leaders were actively trying to unseat him."
Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress leader Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the party formed government in the state in 2018. In 2020, Pilot led a revolt against the Gehlot government after which he was removed from the posts of the party's state unit president and deputy chief minister.
Last year, an attempt by the high command to effect a leadership change in Rajasthan had failed after Gehlot loyalists dug their heels in and did not allow a legislature party meeting to take place. Earlier this year, Pilot 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.
The BJP, he said, will contest the assembly election on the party's symbol 'lotus'.
Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, BJP state president CP Joshi, leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore, Union minister Arjun Meghwal were among the political leaders present at the rally. There has been much speculation if Raje will be declared the chief ministerial face by the BJP in Rajasthan.
Ashok Gehlot accepted defeat in Rajasthan: PM Modi
On Ashok Gehlot's demand that Modi should give a guarantee that no scheme initiated by the Congress government be stopped if the BJP comes to power, Modi said, “Gehlot knows that the countdown of the Congress government has started. He in a way has congratulated the BJP by publicly requesting that the schemes should not be stopped. I assure you that the BJP will not stop any scheme of public interest but will try to improve it. This is Modi's guarantee."
Gehlot had recently demanded that Modi should guarantee that the Congress government's schemes will not be discontinued if the BJP comes to power in the state.
PM Mod attacks Gehlot govt over corruption women's safety
Attacking the Gehlot government over the issue of corruption and women's safety, the PM said he is pained when atrocities take place against daughters anywhere in the country but charged that the Congress has made this a tradition here.
Referring to tailor Kanhaiya Lal's brutal murder in Udaipur last year, Modi asked whether the people of the state had voted the Congress for this. “Had you imagined what happened in Udaipur? People come on the pretext of getting clothes stitched, slit the throat of the tailor without any fear and make a video and make it viral, and Congress gets worried about votes in that too,” he said.
Lal, 48, was killed with a cleaver inside his shop in Udaipur on June 28 last year. The assailants claimed they hacked Lal to death to avenge an alleged insult to Islam.
Modi also said it is not possible to celebrate any festival peacefully in Rajasthan because of the "anti-development" environment created by the Congress. Modi said the BJP will bring prosperity, employment and development in the state besides ensuring the safety of women.
(With inputs from agencies)
