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As Karnataka votes, PM Modi attacks Congress in Rajasthan; ‘…had to face dirty politics’
Referring to “infighting” within the Rajasthan Congress, the PM said legislators of the Congress did not trust the CM, who himself did not trust his party MLAs.
On a day when polling was underway in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shifted his focus to Rajasthan — which is next in line along with a few other states to go to assembly polls later this year — addressing a rally of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, inaugurating projects worth ₹5,500 crore and taking a dig at the ruling Congress in the crucial western state.
Referring to “infighting” within the Rajasthan Congress, which has seen its two top leaders chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot frequently hitting out at each other, the PM said legislators of the Congress did not trust the CM, who himself did not trust his party MLAs.
The remarks came hours after Gehlot said the Opposition must be “respected” in a democracy.
“Rajasthan had to face dirty politics for the past five years. Instead of public welfare, the game going on is to make money and save the (CM) chair,” Modi said, addressing a rally of BJP workers at Abu Road in Sirohi district.
“What sort of government is it where the chief minister does not trust his party MLAs and the MLAs don’t trust the chief minister. Inside the government, everyone is in a race to insult each other,” he said without taking any names. “In the Congress no one is concerned about people’s welfare and that’s why the law and order in the state is in such a bad shape.”
On Tuesday, Congress MLA Sachin Pilot attacked Gehlot for alleged inaction over corruption, and announced a five-day “Jan Sangharsh Yatra” starting Thursday to raise people’s issues.
Referring to a speech by the CM on May 7, Pilot questioned Gehlot’s loyalty towards the Congress leadership. “After listening to the CM’s speech..., I feel his leader is not Sonia Gandhi, his leader is Vasundhara Raje,” Pilot, who represents the Tonk assembly constituency, said on Tuesday.
At a government programme in Nathdwara earlier in the day, PM Modi said the country has paid a heavy price for not giving priority to infrastructure development over the years.
He added that his government was investing heavily and has speeded up rail, road, highways, airports and other projects. Modi said the Centre was focused on development of Rajasthan because the state’s development will give impetus to India’s development.
“Under the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government, the economy has gained momentum. But some who have a vikrit (corrupted) ideology, who are filled with negativity cannot appreciate anything good... Their only agenda is to oppose development because they cannot think beyond vote bank politics,” he said.
Gehlot, who was present on the occasion and also addressed the gathering before Prime Minister Modi, said good development work has happened in Rajasthan and basic facilities have been provided to the people. “Earlier Rajasthan used to lag behind Gujarat, but now it has surpassed Gujarat in development,” Gehlot said. Gujarat is PM Modi’s home state.
While Gehlot was addressing the crowd, the dome reverberated with chants of “Modi, Modi”. The PM motioned his hands to the crowd to stay quiet. When that did not work, he asked state BJP president CP Joshi to control the crowd.
Modi said had basic infrastructure such as water, roads, railway lines, electricity, medical colleges been made earlier, there would be no need to spend crores on it today. He said Rajasthan is the bearer of India’s valour, heritage and culture. “When Rajasthan develops, it will drive development in the country. So our government is giving priority to modern infrastructure in Rajasthan,” he said.
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Earlier, Gehlot had drawn the PM’s attention to pending rail line projects and urged the Centre to examine the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project and take it forward so that water scarcity in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan could be addressed. He also said the BJP and Congress leaders were sitting together in the function and that was the strength of democracy. “We have no enmity. We have ideological fight. Everyone has the freedom to put forth their views.”
He said the “government must respect the opposition because in a democracy, without the opposition, the government is nothing”
