In an explicit caution to Rajasthan's governing BJP leaders, Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari stated on Thursday that their attitude and public conduct should not alter simply because the party has taken over the state's administration, news agency ANI reported. She urged state BJP leaders to set a 'positive example' for others to follow. On Thursday, the deputy chief minister made the remarks while speaking to party workers at the BJP headquarters in Rajasthan's Bhilwara district.
Diya Kumari, drawing a connection between the present BJP rule and the previous Congress government in the state, said the people of Rajasthan had placed their electoral trust in the party, and the onus was now on the government to live up to their expectations.
"Earlier, we were in the Opposition. Now we are in power. While we have taken the reins of administration in the state, it should not reflect on our public conduct and day-to-day functioning," the deputy CM was quoted by ANI in its report.
"Together, we should set a good example for others in the state. We all know what the previous Congress government did. They subjected the people to immense hardships and did nothing for the state. But we have to be different. We have to work and conduct ourselves in the same way as our national leadership, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Diya added.
"The public conduct of politicians is known to change drastically when they come to power. Be it their conduct with fellow party members or the people, everything changes. However, this is one thing that our national leaders, especially PM Modi, have been guarding us against. They have been saying repeatedly that we should continue serving the people with humility, in the same way as we did earlier," the deputy CM added.
She advised BJP workers not to believe that because the party is now in power, they can do "whatever they want."
"Now, you need to be more careful than ever. Whatever you do now will be widely reported in the media. The people shouldn't think that we have the licence to do whatever we want as we are in power," the deputy CM added.
Her words of wisdom have weight, especially in light of a public altercation between two BJP MLAs from Bhilwara district with an administrative officer and a doctor in separate situations.
Lalaram Bairwa, a BJP MLA from Shahpura, clashed with SDM Neha Chhipa over the clearance of encroachment.
According to sources, Sahada MLA Ladulal Pitalia got into a violent argument with physicians during an inspection at a government hospital, ANI reported.
Meanwhile, Diya, who was greeted warmly by the Rajput community at the Kumbha Trust building, took part in a green fair held by Apna Sansthan at Chitrakoot Dham in Bhilwara.
She was photographed checking the fairground stalls.