“A Muslim was being used to overthrow the government,” Ashok Gehlot said. (Archive)
Jaipur:
Rajasthan’s chief minister, Ashok Gehlot, on Friday accused the BJP of “using” a Muslim leader in an attempt to overthrow his government while ignoring the community when it comes to running candidates for election.
He took the charge while accusing BJP Rajya Sabha MP Syed Zafar Islam of being involved in an alleged horse trade during the July revolt by a group of members of Congress, led by former MP CM Sachin Pilot.
Gehlot said that “not a single ticket was given” to Muslim candidates during the last assembly elections in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and yet, he added, “a Muslim was being used to overthrow the government.”
But he did not elaborate on the MP’s alleged role during the attempt to “destabilize” his government earlier this year.
The chief minister alleged that union ministers Amit Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were among those involved in the “conspiracy” to destabilize the government of the state Congress.
Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Gehlot stated that he has evidence that the state leadership of the BJP was also involved.
Responding to another question about Mr. Pilot’s rebellion, the CM said, “Forget and forgive.”
Congressional leadership in Delhi intervened to settle differences between the two factions after Pilot and 18 other MLAs rebelled.
In the past, the BJP rejected the accusation against him, saying that Gehlot was blaming the opposition for a problem within the ranks of his own party.
Gehlot had called the press conference on Friday to highlight his government’s achievements in the past two years.
Also present were AICC Secretary General Ajay Maken, Pradesh Congressional Committee Chairman Govind Singh Dotasra and Ministers of State.
In response to the claim that his government has failed to fulfill an electoral promise to forgo agricultural loans, Gehlot said the opposition is misleading the people.
He said that loans from cooperative and territorial development banks have been waived, but nationalized banks are dependent on the Reserve Bank of India and asked why the Center is not involved in this.
He said the state government has even offered to disburse 50 percent of the amount involved in exemptions from nationalized banks.
He accused the BJP government in the Center of not caring about the concerns of farmers protesting against farm laws.
Dotasra said the party will begin a “Kisan Samvad” meeting program with farmers from across the state on Monday.
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