'Lying Out Of Fear...': Vasundhara Raje On Gehlot's 'She Saved Rajasthan Govt From BJP's Conspiracy' Claim

Vasundhara Raje has rejected Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot's claims that BJP tried toppling his government in 2020 and she save it from happening.

New Delhi: A battle of allegations has begun in Rajasthan between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) after CM Ashok Gehlot made a shocking claim that BJP wanted to topple his government, but Vasundhara Raje saved it. Following the remark, former Rajasthan CM Raje rejected the claims and said that Gehlot is lying out of fear of losing the assembly elections in the state later this year and is rattled by the rebellion within the state Congress unit. 

The issue goes back to 2020 when the infighting within the Rajasthan Congress nearly collapsed the state government. Now, Ashok Gehlot has credited her rival Vasundhara Raje and two other BJP leaders for saving his government. 

Addressing a programme in Dholpur on Sunday, Gehlot stated that the 2020 crisis was conspired by Union Ministers of the BJP government and claimed that Vasundhara Raje, former Assembly Speaker Kailash Meghwal and MLA Shobharani Kushwaha were not in favour of toppling the elected Congress government. 

Gehlot's Shocking Claim 

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said in Dholpur, as quoted by ANI, "Former Chief Ministers of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Shobha Rani and Kailash Meghwal knew their party people were toppling the government. Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Kailash Meghwal had said that it has never been our tradition to topple the elected government on the basis of money. They did not support those who toppled the government due to which our government survived."  

Gehlot targeted his rivals within the party and said that he had requested the MLAs, who revolted to return the money they had taken from the BJP so that they could perform without any pressure. 

"Amit Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Gajendra Shekhawat conspired together and distributed the money inside the Rajasthan government. I advised our MLAs (who revolted) that even if some of the money taken has been spent by them, they should inform us. I will give you money and tell AICC, but don't take BJP's money. If you will keep their money, they will scare you later, threaten you... They took away 25 MLAs. Amit Shah plays a very dangerous game, give his money back," Gehlot said while elaborating on the BJP's alleged gameplan of toppling his government.  

Notably, in July 2020, Ashok Gehlot had accused the BJP of trying to overthrow his government by offering Congress MLAs bribes, but the BJP denied any involvement. The Gehlot and Pilot tussle has been simmering since before 2020 and Pilot was sacked as deputy CM and removed as state unit chief. 

 

Vasundhara's Counterattack On Gehlot 

Countering Gehlot’s remarks, Vasundhara Raje said, "Gehlot's statement against me is a conspiracy. Nobody can insult me as much as Gehlot has done. He is lying out of fear of losing the 2023 Assembly elections and has made such false allegations as he is rattled by the rebellion in his own party". 

Meanwhile, Sachin Pilot last month had announced his plans of holding a day-long fast on April 11 alleging that the Gehlot government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan. The Congress party called a meeting to resolve the situation regarding Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Congress leader Sachin Pilot, party sources confirmed, as reported by ANI. 

The difference between Pilot and Gehlot has been fairly visible on several occasions and it is to be seen what transpires in the assembly polls in the state which is scheduled to take place in December this year.