Pilot offered me the ‘going rate’ to join BJP, says MLA
Sachin ‘saddened’ by ‘baseless, vexatious’ accusations Raj CM Ashok Gehlot calls Pilot ‘nikamma, nakara’
The Rajasthan political saga continued on Monday with chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy trading barbs even as a Congress MLA alleged that Sachin Pilot had offered him the “going rate” to join the BJP. Mr Pilot dismissed the allegation as “baseless and vexatious” and claimed that it was an attempt to stifle the “legitimate concerns” he has raised against the party leadership in the state.
Congress MLA from Rajasthan Giriraj Singh Malinga claimed that talks were held at Mr Pilot’s residence and, subsequently, he alerted Mr Gehlot about the conspiracy to topple the Congress government. “I had a talk with Sachinji. He offered me money to join the BJP, but I refused, saying I will not join the saffron party,” Mr Malinga told reporters.
Though he did not disclose the amount he was allegedly offered, questioned as to whether it was between `30 crore and `35 crore, Mr Malinga said he was offered the “going rate”.
Reacting to his allegation, Mr Pilot said he was saddened but not surprised. “I’m saddened but not surprised to be at receiving end of such baseless, vexatious allegations being levelled against me. This attempt further aims at defaming me and attack my credibility. The narrative is being redirected to avoid addressing the main issue,” he said in a statement.
Mr Pilot said he will be taking “appropriate and strictest possible legal action” against Mr
Malinga. Chief minister Mr Gehlot too was not to be left behind. In a direct attack, Mr Gehlot said he knew that his former deputy Sachin Pilot was “good for nothing”.
Using the Hindi word nikamma, he said, “I knew that he was useless, good for nothing, and was only there to instigate people to fight. I am not here to sell vegetables, I am the CM.”
Meanwhile, in the Rajasthan high court, which resumed hearing a plea by Mr Pilot and other rebel MLAs against the disqualification notices issued to them by the Assembly Speaker, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, counsel for the Speaker, argued that the petition was premature as a decision was yet to be taken on disqualifying the MLAs from the House.
The hearing remained inconclusive and Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty said it will be concluded Tuesday. The order is also likely to be pronounced on Tuesday.
In another development, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was served a notice by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Rajasthan Police in an investigation into allegations of a conspiracy to pull down the Rajasthan government.
I had a talk with Sachinji. He offered me money to join the BJP, but I refused, saying I will not join the saffron party, —Giriraj Singh Malinga, MLA
“I am saddened but not surprised to be at the receiving end of such baseless and vexatious allegations being levelled against me. This is done solely to malign me and to stifle the legitimate concerns that I had raised against the party leadership of the state —Sachin Pilot
I knew he was useless and wasn’t doing anything. He was just making people fight... No one could believe that this person could do such a thing. Innocent face, good command over English and Hindi —Ashok Gehlot
New Delhi/Jaipur, July 20: The CBI on Monday questioned Olympian and Rajasthan Congress MLA Krishna Poonia in connection with the alleged suicide by SHO of Rajgarh Vishnudutt Vishnoi in Churu district, officials said. Ms Poonia was questioned for nearly three hours at her home in Jaipur, they said.
Vishnoi’s body was found hanging from the ceiling of his residence on May 23, they said.
The Rajasthan government had handed over the probe to the CBI in the case.
Two suicide notes were recovered from Vishnoi-one addressed to his parents and the other to the superintendent of police of the district.
In the suicide note to the SP, Vishnoi had said he was not able to bear the pressure put on him. He had also said that he tried to give his best to the Rajasthan police.
Vishnoi’s brother had filed a complaint with the Rajasthan police alleging he was under pressure which led him to take this drastic step, they said.
A screenshot of a purported WhatsApp chat that Vishnoi had with one of his activist friends, in which the police officer talked about being trapped in dirty politics, had also gone viral.
The leaders of the BJP and the BSP have alleged that the officer, who was known for his honesty and hardwork, was being pressured by Congress MLA Krishna Poonia, a charge that she has denied.
Discus thrower Poonia is the the 2010 CWG gold medallist and had finished sixth at the 2012 London Olympics. She represents Sadulpur constituency in Rajasthan.
Earlier, senior BJP lawmaker Rajendra Rathore and former BSP MLA Manoj Nyangli have been booked along with over 150 others for allegedly violating lockdown and social-distancing norms while registering their protest over the alleged suicide.
◗ IN THE SUICIDE note, SHO of Rajgarh Vishnudutt Vishnoi had said he was not able to bear the pressure put on him. The deceased had also said that he tried to give his best to the Rajasthan police