Gehlot calls BJP for issue-based debate, not religious rhetoric

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Tuesday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders to speak on the work done by his government instead of talking about religion in election rallies.
Accusing the leaders of the opposition party of doing politics in the name of religion ahead of the Rajasthan assembly polls, Gehlot said that the Congress was fighting the electoral battle on issues of development and welfare of the people.
“BJP leaders come and say provocative things in their speeches in the name of religion. They impose their agenda in the name of religion which is not a good tradition,” he said at Jaipur’s Albert Hall after paying tributes to former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru on his birth anniversary.
“I challenge them to speak on our schemes and programmes and the performance of the government instead of doing politics in the name of religion… If they have something to criticise our development works with, they should do it but it is not a good thing to do provocative things,” Gehlot added.
“We made important laws, gave 10 guarantees in inflation relief camps, our COVID-19 management was excellent, Rajasthan is first in north India and second in the country in economic growth. We delivered good governance in five years. Development is our agenda and we are contesting elections on this,” he told reporters.
Gehlot later left for Kota to launch the ‘Guarantee Yatra’ in the division, participate in roadshows in favour of Congress candidates Shanti Dhariwal, Rakhi Gautam and Naimuddin Guddu, and address a public meeting at Thermal Circle.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived at Kota Airport via helicopter at 11:30 am along with Pradesh Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Speaking to the media at the airport, Gehlot said, “The BJP has started practising divisive politics. They are trying to provoke people in the name of religion. Gehlot stated that BJP leaders talk about throwing stones directly. I challenge them; if you have come to the election arena, discuss our achievements, schemes, and the guarantee of relief camps in the field of inflation.”
The CM narrated an incident from Kerala, saying, “The government has been changing in Kerala for 70 years. This time, in the elections, it was said that they would repeat the success of the CPM. When asked why, as this time Congress is in the lead, CPM responded that they did good work during COVID-19. So, I thought if a government can be repeated in the name of Corona, why not in Rajasthan.” Gehlot also praised the excellent work done in Rajasthan during the pandemic, and the Rajasthan model received praise from countries around the world. He said, “What has not happened in Rajasthan? When everything has happened, our people are not less intelligent. We think that the public will repeat us.”
He said, “We are asking for votes on the basis of developmental work and we want an issue-based contest as we don’t have enmity with anyone…”
Whenever BJP leaders come, they talk as if they were “pelting stones”, Gehlot claimed.
Exuding confidence that the Congress will emerge victorious in the assembly polls, the chief minister said, “We believe that the public will repeat our government on the basis of our work.”
CM Ashok Gehlot also reached Ghatothkach Chowk from the airport, where, he addressed a public meeting in support of Kota South candidate Raki Gautam. Following this, he initiated the guarantee journey, sitting in the guarantee journey bus and reached Keshavpura Chowk. A roadshow and meeting were organised in support of Congress candidate Shanti Dhariwal in the Kota North constituency.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, “Love, affection, and brotherhood also exist in politics. Leaders like Modi ji, Amit Shah ji, or those who come, like Yogi ji now, talk about throwing stones directly. All this is not appropriate for the welfare of the country and Rajasthan. We want to talk about our achievements with peace, love, and affection. If you have the courage, criticise our achievements.”
With the initiation of the guarantee journey, Ashok Gehlot said, “The guarantee journey has started in all seven divisions. In the first 10 guarantees, 7 crore 10 lakh cards were distributed to the public in the state. Guarantee cards of 1 crore 80 lakh people have to be taken in the relief camps. From this, you can understand the immense trust that the public has shown in the government.”
“A guarantee of Rs. 25 lakh insurance, gas cylinder for Rs. 500, Annapurna Yojana, free 100 units of electricity; people feel that the government does what it says. We have passed good laws and provided good governance. We passed the Minimum Income Guarantee Act, which is not there anywhere in the world. Our work is being discussed all over the country,” Gehlot stated.