‘Cong fighting polls to save Constitution’
BARMER: Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said the Congress will not contest the coming Lok Sabha polls as any normal election, as this time, it is a fight to “save the future of this country, the democracy and the Constitution of BR Ambedkar.”
The former CM emphasised that while Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are expressing concern over the “deteriorating democracy and its values, the actions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are evident to the people.”
Addressing the nomination rally of Congress candidate from Barmer Ummedaram Beniwal at Adharsh Stadium in the constituency, Gehlot said: “Rahul is talking about price hike, increasing gap between rich and poor, lack of communal harmony and unemployment, while Modi government is misusing the central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and inducting corrupt people into his party.”
He added: “At present there is a Congress wave running in the country and due to this the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Modi are nervous.”
Gehlot said that for the first time since independence, such an environment has been created in the country. “With the present scenario, it is difficult to say whether elections will be held or not in future if the BJP wins this time. It is dangerous to foster such an environment.”
The senior Congress leader further alleged that the BJP is trying to intimidate the opposition through central agencies. He further claimed that BJP possesses a “washing machine” whereby if individuals from other parties join it, their dirty stains are washed away. Then, they do not have to fear the ED, Income Tax, and CID.
Criticizing the freezing of Congress bank accounts, Gehlot said that even the United Nations had condemned such actions. “Two chief ministers — Jharkhand’s Hemant Soren and Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal, were elected by the people, but they were sent to jail and all the countries including America, Germany are criticizing the drama going on in the country.”
“BJP leaders are talking about becoming a world leader, but the country is being criticized in this way,” he added.
Gehlot moved ahead with accusing BJP of winning state assembly elections through spreading lies. “In present government regime incidents of rape, atrocities are on rise, but they (BJP) do not have concern with it.”
Speaking at the meeting, Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasara lashed out at CM Bhajanlal Sharma, terming him as a man of visits and speeches. “The CM is misleading people in the state,” he said. Dotasara also lashed out at minister of school education Madan Dilawar, who, a day earlier, said that soon Gehlot and Dotasara would be in jail as several paper leak cases are being investigated. Dilawar made this comment during the nomination rally of BJP candidate Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria in Tonk on Tuesday.
In response to Dilawar, Dotasara said: “He and Gehlot would indeed go to jail, but to visit Dilawar.” “BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have mastered the art of spreading lies. They chant lies until people start believing them as truth,” he added. Leader of the opposition (LoP), Tikaram Jully, also addressed the meeting. Jully, while targeting the CM, said that he is falsely claiming that his government has fulfilled 75% of its promises made before the assembly elections.
“The CM should inform the people about the work his government has accomplished so far. He should tell the people about his government’s plan regarding OPS, Chiranjivi, and other welfare schemes.”
Congress candidate Ummedaram Beniwal, MLA Harish Choudhary, former MP Colonel Sonnaram Choudhary, former MLA Hemaram Choudhary, Ruparam Meghwal, Madan Prajapat, Padmaram Meghwal, district president Gaffur Ahmad, Congress leader Fatah Khan, Shama Bano, Ummed Singh Tanwar and several other party leaders and workers were also present in the event.
In response, BJP leader Ramesh Inda said: “Before making such statements, Congress leaders should recall the period of emergency when democracy was truly murdered. He said that those who imposed the emergency have no right to talk about democracy and the constitution.”Inda further expressed his astonishment that Congress leaders fear the Modi government. “As with each passing day, the Modi government is sending corrupt individuals behind bars. Due to this, they want the Modi government not to be re-elected.”