JAIPUR: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot responded Wednesday to PM Narendra Modi’s accusations regarding the Congress government allowing a banned outfit’s rally in Kota last year, asking why the Centre did not dismiss his administration if it sympathised with terrorists.
In an interview with TOI, just three days before assembly elections, Gehlot said BJP’s charges were thoughtless and stemmed from fear of his government’s successful schemes.“Congress’s success is definite,” he said.
Gehlot advised BJP to focus on policies and performance instead of inflammatory speeches. He refuted BJP’s claims about confiscated agricultural land, stating his government passed a law preventing such seizures.
He claimed that paper leaks in recruitment exams plagued the entire nation, but only Rajasthan took decisive action by imprisoning 200 people, and enacting a stringent law with life imprisonment. He said the caste survey ordered in Rajasthan was modelled on Bihar, aiming to frame policies based on economic status of various castes.
You’ve provided several guarantees. How confident are you about your government being re-elected?
There is a full guarantee of our government getting repeated. If the government in Kerala can be re-elected based on the good work done during the pandemic, why can’t ours? We initiated the Bhilwara model to combat Covid, enacted impactful laws, and our performance in education, health, infrastructure, and social security is historic…We’ve left no aspect untouched.
Has inflation become a big issue this election? You talked about providing LPG cylinders for Rs 500 each, then BJP promised it for Rs 450, and now your party manifesto promises it for Rs 400. PM Modi mentioned that Rajasthan has the costliest petrol and diesel.
He is lying. It is costliest in Madhya Pradesh…The (excise duty and VAT) ratio has remained the same here for 20 years, under both BJP and Congress governments. Why didn’t they correct it when BJP was in power? …They (Centre) are looting the country by eliminating states’ share in excise duty. The common man does not understand these matters. So, they’re (BJP) taking advantage of it… We reduced VAT even before the Centre, showing our sensitivity to people suffering from fuel price increases.
The Congressmanifesto promises 10 lakh jobs. How will you deliver, considering resentment among about paper leaks?
Paper leaks have occurred nationwide — in MP, Gujarat, UP, and even in Army, and Rajasthan high court. But action has been taken only in Rajasthan. We’ve arrested 200 people, demolished their buildings, and passed a strict law with life imprisonment for the guilty. Since enacting this law, there have been no paper leaks in Rajasthan. We’ve been providing candidates free travel and accommodation. The youth are aware of our efforts.

BJP is attacking your government over women safety.
These are catchphrases of BJP leaders. They’ve become defensive, and their leaders are delivering inciting speeches instead of debating our schemes, laws, and government’s performance.
PM Modi said the Congress government sympathises with terrorists.
He should have dismissed our government… Any government sympathising with terrorists should be immediately dismissed. If we have really sympathised with terrorists, what bigger crime can there be? So, why aren’t they dismissing our government? The PM has levelled a big charge without giving a thought… He does not know what he’s saying.

The PM is lying. Petrol and diesel are costliest in Madhya Pradesh, not Rajasthan… The (excise duty and VAT) ratio has remained the same here for 20 years, under both BJP and Congress governments.

Ashok Gehlot

Has religion become a significant issue in elections?
They (BJP) have no other issues. We don’t care about that (polarisation).
The BJP manifesto promises to hike the Kisan Samman Nidhi to Rs 12,000 and compensate 19,400 farmers for confiscated land.
From where did they get this figure? They are experts in lying… Our schemes and laws speak for themselves. We have a law to ensure farmers’ lands cannot be confiscated.