Amid the ongoing political crisis in the state, Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot has written a two-page letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi appraising him about the efforts to topple his government through horse-trading.
Naming Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Gehlot writes that leaders from BJP and his own party are involved in the efforts.
The letter says, “I do not know how much aware you are about this or you are being misled. But history will never forgive people who are a part of it.”
The letter says that the beauty of Democracy is that governments rise above party politics to keep public welfare as a top priority. It also mentions the efforts made by Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments to amend anti-defection laws. “But for last some time efforts are being made to destabilize elected governments. Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are examples.”
“Saving lives is the top priority during these times of COVID19 pandemic but efforts are being made to topple Rajasthan Government. This is being done by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and other BJP leaders along with some over-ambitious leaders of our party. One of them is Bhanwarlal Sharma who had tried to topple Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s Government.”
Gehlot further writes that he was then the state president of Congress and had personally met Prime Minister P V Narsimha Rao and Governor Baliram Bhagat and said that toppling elected governments through horse-trading amounts to cheating the public.
Posting the letter on micro-blogging site, Twitter Gehlot addressed a message to the PM, “I am bringing to your attention the hateful attempts being made to topple democratically elected governments that are damaging the democratic traditions.”
Speaking to a local news channel after sending off the letter, the chief minister said, “I share a very cordial relationship with the Prime Minister. He has appreciated the work in the state during the Neeti Aayog meet and video conference meets held to review the Corona situation. He has formed a government twice and created history. I thought to write to tell him and tell him about what is going on.”
Rajasthan Congress is in turmoil after simmering differences between Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot came out in the open. Pilot was sacked from the posts of Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and state PCC president on July 14.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has blamed the BJP for attempting to destabilise the state government by
