Last Update: May 16, 2023, 06:21 AM IST
Rajendra Singh Gudha made the remarks while addressing a rally in support of dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot (right). (Getty)
Rajasthan BJP leaders took a jibe at Rajendra Singh Gudha’s remarks and demanded Gehlot’s immediate resignation.
Launching a scathing attack on his Congress party government led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan minister Rajendra Singh Gudha on Monday alleged that it has surpassed Karnataka’s “40 per cent commission BJP government” in corruption.
Addressing a rally here in support of dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot, the minister said, “Our government’s alignment has gone bad.”
‘The record of corruption has been broken. Karnataka had 40 per cent corruption cases. Our government has crossed it.
Rajasthan BJP leaders took a jibe at Gudha’s remarks and demanded Gehlot’s immediate resignation.
Sainik Welfare Minister Gudha also accused his cabinet colleague Shanti Dhariwal, saying that no file is cleared from his office without corruption.
He also alleged that Chief Minister Gehlot indulged in horse-trading and tried to buy BJP MLAs during the rebellion by Congress MLAs in 2020. He also claimed that he had proof of this.
Suggesting collusion between Gehlot and his predecessor Vasundhara Raje, he alleged that they got infected with the coronavirus around the same time.
Addressing the gathering, Forest Minister Hemaram Chowdhary said that the Congress leaders have left no stone unturned in trying to prevent people from attending the rally. But, people have turned up in large numbers to support the rally.
“The people in power today think that they will single-handedly bring back the government. I do not accept it. I do not believe so. You can’t clap with one hand.
“If you think Hemaram is corrupt, throw me out of the government today itself. There is no need to keep me in the government, nor do I have any desire to remain in the government.
The public meeting marked the completion of Pilot’s five-day foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur over “inaction” on “corruption” by the Gehlot government during the previous BJP tenure in the state.
The Gehlot-Pilot tussle in the Rajasthan Congress intensified on a day when the party’s central leadership was left struggling to choose between two contenders for the chief minister’s post — Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar — after winning the assembly polls in Karnataka.
Last week, the Congress returned to power in Karnataka by defeating the BJP. During the election campaign, the Congress accused the BJP government of indulging in large-scale corruption and “taking 40 per cent commission in all kinds of work done by the government”.
Referring to the remarks of Rajasthan ministers at the rally, BJP state president CP Joshi tweeted, “Chief Minister @ashokgehlot51. The ministers of your government are accusing your own government of being the most corrupt and commissioned government in India. Should you continue in your post in such a situation? If there is even an iota of morality left, you should resign immediately.
Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said, ‘The Congress minister himself is telling the reality of the promise of ‘zero description, zero corruption and zero tolerance’ made in the public manifesto regarding corruption. Corruption in his own government is very serious, it should be fair and high level investigation.
He alleged, “The minister’s statement has once again proved that Congress and corruption complement each other.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
