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Last Update: May 07, 2023, 22:37 IST
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. (File Photo/IANS)
He also hit out at the rebel Congress MLAs and said that they should return the money taken from the BJP so that they can perform their duty without any pressure.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday claimed that Vasundhara Raje and two other BJP leaders had helped save his government during the 2020 rebellion by his party’s MLAs.
He also hit out at the rebel Congress MLAs and said that they should return the money taken from the BJP so that they can perform their duty without any pressure.
Gehlot’s then deputy Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs revolted against his leadership in July 2020. The month-long crisis was ended after the intervention of the party high command. After this, Pilot was removed from the post of Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President.
Addressing an event in Dholpur, Gehlot said his government could be saved because of the support of three BJP leaders — former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, former Assembly Speaker Kailash Meghwal and MLA Shobharani Kushwaha.
“(Union ministers) Amit Shah, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Dharmendra Pradhan conspired together to topple my government. They distributed money in Rajasthan and now they are not taking the money back. I am surprised why they are not demanding money back from them (MLAs).
I have even told the MLAs that whatever money they have taken, Rs 10 crore or Rs 20 crore, if you have spent anything, I will give that share or get it from AICC (All India Congress Committee). ,
Gehlot alleged that if the MLAs do not return the money, they will always be under the pressure of Amit Shah.
Gehlot alleged, “He is the Union Home Minister, he will intimidate… In Maharashtra, he divided the Shiv Sena.”
He said that he was made the chief minister for the third time by the party and it was his duty to take everyone along and forget the past incidents to ensure the party returns to power in the assembly elections to be held later this year. Gehlot said that as the state party chief, he did not support the fall of the Bhairon Singh Shekhawat-led BJP government as it was unfair, in the same way, Raje and Meghwal did not support the fall of the Congress government in 2020.
He said that BJP MLA Shobharani Kushwaha also listened to him and did not support the party.
Gehlot and Raje have often been accused by their opponents of being “soft” on each other, especially when it comes to corruption charges.
Both the leaders have denied any such understanding. A few days ago, Raje dismissed the allegations of collusion with Gehlot as lies and said that milk and lemon juice never mix.
Dholpur MLA Kushwaha cross-voted in favor of the Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections last year and was later suspended from the party.
The Congress leader was addressing the program in the home constituency of former chief minister Raje.
Gehlot praised Congress MLAs Rohit Bohra, Chetan Doody and Danish Abrar for alerting him about a rebellion against his government in 2020.
He said that these three MLAs, the BSP-turned-Congress MLA and the independent MLA who supported him during the political crisis in 2020 and saved his government, were eligible to become ministers in his government but he could not do so due to political reasons. and make them sad about it.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
