Rajasthan: PM Modi slams Ashok Gehlot over corruption, appeasement, women's safety

Using the “red diary” released by ousted Rajasthan Minister Rajendra Gudha as evidence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi blasted the Ashok Gehlot administration on Thursday over “corruption” and asserted that if the BJP is elected, the truth will come to light.

During his speech, Prime Minister Modi said that the Congress administration had done nothing to advance the state’s development and that ‘kursi ka khel’ had persisted there 24 hours a day. He further charged that the Congress was engaging in “appeasement politics”.

“In five years, Congress government did not walk even one step. The ‘kursi ka khel’ continued here round the clock…Have you heard about ‘Lal Diary’? People say that the diary contains every misdeed of Congress’ corruption. Tell me, should the secrets of the diary not come out in the open? Should the dishonest not be punished? Will Congress Government let the secrets of the diary come in open? For the truth to come out, you will have to form a BJP Government,” he said.

Gehlot promptly removed Gudha from his position as minister after he spoke in the state Assembly about “atrocities against women” there.

Gudha asserted that he had taken the “red diary” from the home of a close friend of the Chief Minister and that it included details of “misdeeds” committed by the Gehlot administration. Later, he claimed that the “red diary”‘s third page had information about “irregularities” in the Rajasthan Cricket Association.

According to Prime Minister Modi, Congress put Rajasthan at the top of the nation for “corruption and riots” and “atrocities against women and Dalits.”

“The BJP Government at the Centre is making every effort on its part for the development of Rajasthan. But it is painful to see the condition here…Congress has brought Rajasthan to the top of the country in terms of corruption and riots. It has made Rajasthan the number one in terms of atrocities against women and Dalits. Congress has given a free hand to the drugs business,” he said.

“When such is the condition of law and order situation, investment doesn’t take place and business is ruined. But the Congress government loves its vote bank more than the welfare of Rajasthan. When Jodhpur was burning with riots, what was the CM doing? When violence erupted here and innocents were killed, what were the Congress leaders doing? Is Congress’ first and last policy just appeasement? A Congress MLA herself says that she is not safe, we can imagine what would be the condition of common girls and women,” he added.

The Prime Minister also attacked the Congress government in the state over the “paper leak mafia”.

“I would make one more promise to you. Congress’ paper leak mafia has ruined the future of lakhs of youth here. The youth of Rajasthan is demanding justice…BJP Government will take strict actions against all such paper leak mafia,” he said.

The BJP is determined, according to the prime minister, to make Rajasthan the top tourist destination in the country.

“Who can make that happen?…Modi can’t do that, your vote can do that. With the power of your vote, BJP will form the Govt in Rajasthan and it will become the number one state in tourism,” he said.

“For the BJP Government, your health is our priority. On one side, we are providing free treatment facilities to poor families under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and on the other side, we are building modern hospitals in record numbers,” he added.

(With agency inputs)