Supporting the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches in Rajasthan, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the state's Congress administration of orchestrating a fraud under the Jal Jeevan Mission on Friday, news agency PTI reported. Joshi said that a Rajasthan minister and certain local MLAs were implicated in the scandal without identifying anyone. "Gehlot government's minister and some local level MLAs are involved in the Jal Jeevan Mission scam. When you indulge in corruption, the ED conducts raid. I only want to say that CM Ashok Gehlot and the Congress government has no moral authority to remain in power even for a single minute," he said.
Responding to the ED raids in the alleged scam in the Jal Jeevan Mission, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot stated: "We had been waiting for ED, CBI and Income Tax for days. State elections are here, so it is obvious. The manner in which they work under pressure from the top is not correct. I support ED/CBI/IT. Action should be taken against those who are corrupt, we will support them. But if you work to just harass, under pressure from the top."
He went on to say that while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi talks about 'Mohabbat ki Dukan,' in the Congress-ruled state of Rajasthan, it implies "crime against women, Dalits, and seers."
"Mohabbat ki Dukan in Rajasthan means atrocities on Dalits, rape and murder of women, seers and saints. A minister in the state government says that Rajasthan is a state of 'mard' (men)," he said, claiming that in the upcoming Assembly elections, the people will "throw out" the Congress.
When asked about BJP MLA Kailash Meghwal's remark against Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Joshi stated that he has a tendency of speaking out against the party line. He stated that the MLA should respond to the indiscipline notice filed on him.
"The BJP is a party which does not tolerate indiscipline," Joshi added.
Joshi stated that BJP President J P Nadda will commence the 'Parivartan Yatra' on Saturday at Sawai Madhopur. Between Saturday and Tuesday, the party will begin four yatras from various locales, with each yatra launched by a central leader.
The second yatra will begin on September 3 from Beneshwar Dham in Dungarpur, and will be led by Union Honourable Minister Amit Shah. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the third yatra from Ramdevra in Jaisalmer on September 4, and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will launch the fourth yatra from Gogamedi in Hanumangrh on September 5.