Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a "friend", Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said he had no enmity with BJP and it was "an ideological battle".
Addressing a press conference at his residence, Gehlot said, "There is no enmity with BJP, it is an ideological battle."
Gehlot's reaction comes after PM Modi, speaking at an event to launch Vande Bharat Express, thanked Gehlot for attending the programme despite the ongoing political crisis in Congress -- a reference to the CM's tussle with colleague Sachin Pilot.
"I express my special gratitude to Gehlot ji. During these days of political struggle when he is going through several crises, he took out the time for development work and participated in a railway programme. I welcome him," PM Modi said.
The Chief Minister said the Vande Bharat train "is a big gift for Rajasthan". It is Rajasthan's first semi-high-speed train, which will reduce the travel time between Jaipur and Delhi.
Last year in November, when the two leaders shared the stage at an event in Banswara, Modi described Gehlot as the senior-most chief minister in the fraternity of CMs. Pilot had then taken a dig at Gehlot over this.
On Tuesday, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot held a daylong fast in Jaipur, targeting the Gehlot government over "inaction" in alleged cases of corruption during the erstwhile Vasundhara Raje-led BJP regime.
Pilot went ahead with his fast from 11 am to 4 pm defying the Congress central leadership's warning that the move would be considered "anti-party" activity.
When asked about Pilot's protest, Gehlot said the government's only aim is to ease inflation. "This is our only focus and we aren't going to deviate from it," the Rajasthan CM further said.
He also asserted that the Rajasthan Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) had raided several corrupt officers, something which has not happened in any other place in the country.