Farmers Movement Archive

BJP doesn’t give tickets to Muslims, uses them to topple governments: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said the BJP does not give tickets to "Muslims" in elections but uses them to topple the state governments. Gehlot referred to BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sayed Zafar Islam, whom he earlier blamed for the political crisis created by the rebellion of Sachin Pilot and other Congress MLAs in Rajasthan in July-August. The CM further said there were four "Bagula Bhagat" (person who pretends to be saint but is a cheat) in Rajasthan BJP and referred to Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, leader of opposition Gulab Chand Kataria, deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore and BJP state president Satish Poonia. Gehlot accused the four of conspiring to topple his government in collusion with Union ministers Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan. On AICC general secretary Ajay Maken’s recent remark that Pilot was an asset for the Congress, Gehlot said every worker was an asset for the party. The CM was addressing the media to highlight achievements of his government’s two years. "Over 400 tickets are distributed in Uttar Pradesh and around 250 tickets in Bihar but BJP gives not a single ticket to the Muslims. It uses Muslims to topple governments," Gehlot said on Friday. The chief minister was addressing the media at his residence as his government completed two years in office on December 17. During the Rajasthan assembly elections in 2018, BJP fielded Muslim candidate on just one of the 200 seats in the state. As the then chief minister Vasundhara Raje put her foot down, the saffron party gave ticket to her cabinet minister Yunus Khan at the eleventh hour but changed his constituency from Deedwana in Nagaur district to Tonk from Sachin Pilot was the Congress candidate. Pilot defeated Khan comfortably. The BJP, however, fielded 17 Muslim candidates in Jaipur’s municipal elections last month. Just one of them won. Gehlot, while addressing the media, sarcastically said, "PM Narendra Modi gave a wonderful speech at the Aligarh Muslim University last week. He is so generous hearted.. there is no religious or caste bias.. So much difference in words and deeds! Give at least one ticket (to Muslims) just to show." The chief minister targeted the Centre’s BJP-government on the farm laws issue too. Gehlot asked why Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra was not forwarding the amended farm laws passed by the state assembly to the President’s consent. "This is how democracy is being challenged. Rahul Gandhi was correct in saying that there was no real democracy in India, it was only imaginary. Why is the PM talking to farmers state-wise? Why he is not addressing the entire nation on the farm laws?" Gehlot said.

The Times of India

2020-12-26

Jaipur