Prove even one thing I said about you wrong Rajasthan CM targets Gehlot

     Jaipur, Nov 5 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma targeted former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday, asking him to prove even one of the allegations made against him wrong, asserting that he would continue to respond to the Congress leader's statements.

     Addressing the BJP's 'Loktantra Bachao' rally in Jaipur, Sharma referred to his remarks over corruption made against Gehlot in Jodhpur earlier this week, which had triggered a war of words between the two leaders.

     "What I said in Jodhpur has rattled you. You will be rattled even more. Whatever you say, you will get a reply," Sharma said without naming Gehlot.

     "Prove even one thing I said wrong. Did you not appoint a member to the RPSC (Rajasthan Public Service Commission) who is in jail?

     "Is your (former) minister not in jail? Was there no JJM (Jal Jeevan Mission) scam during your rule? Are officials not in jail?" Sharma asked.

     He accused the former chief minister of lying and said the allegations he had made were based on information already in the public domain.

     "I had said that I was showing you the mirror. Compare our 34 months with your five years of rule and give an answer," he said.

     Sharma had on Tuesday accused Gehlot of exploiting farmers through his fertiliser and seed business before entering politics, and levelled allegations about irregularities during the previous Congress government.

     Gehlot had rejected the allegations and challenged Sharma to produce documentary evidence within 24 hours or apologise. The former chief minister subsequently accused Sharma of failing to substantiate his claims.

     At Thursday's rally in Jaipur, Sharma also launched an attack on the Congress, accusing it of undermining democratic institutions and attempting to create anarchy.

     He referred to the Emergency imposed in 1975 and alleged that the Congress had a history of suppressing democracy and dismissing elected governments.

     Sharma said BJP workers were committed to strengthening democracy and serving people, while Congress leaders questioned constitutional institutions whenever decisions went against them.

     "You level allegations against the Election Commission. When corruption is detected, you accuse the ED and the CBI. Which institution have you not accused?" he asked.

     He also accused Congress leaders of avoiding parliamentary debates and leaving the country after Parliament sessions.

     Referring to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharma recalled how he had respected the parliamentary verdict when his government fell by one vote.

     The chief minister alleged that Congress pursued caste-based, religious and appeasement politics, while the BJP worked for public welfare.

     He also defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his leadership had brought India international recognition and helped lift millions of people out of poverty.

     Sharma accused Congress of questioning electronic voting machines only when it lost elections.

     "When Congress wins, everything is fine and EVMs are fine. Everywhere else, they find fault. The people have rejected you," he said.

     He alleged that Congress leaders were trying to create anarchy and said the BJP would give them a fitting response.

     Earlier, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and accused the Congress of questioning the exercise because it had lost the trust of the people.

     Vaishnaw said that the revision of electoral rolls was not being undertaken for the first time and similar exercises had been conducted several times, including during Congress governments.

     He said the exercise was necessary to ensure that electoral rolls were accurate and names wrongly included in them were removed.

     The Union minister alleged that the Congress was opposing the exercise because it had lost its standing in society and failed to do justice to different sections of the population during its rule.

     He said the BJP worked with a 'nation first' approach, while the Congress had failed to put national interests above political considerations.

     Vaishnaw accused Congress leaders of attacking democratic institutions to remain politically relevant after losing public confidence.

     "They have lost the trust of the people. They are taking to the streets and attacking democracy to make themselves relevant," he alleged.

     He also criticised the Congress for repeatedly questioning electronic voting machines (EVMs).

     The minister said the Congress had become confined to one family instead of giving importance to its dedicated workers.

     Challenging Congress leaders to debate issues in Parliament, Vaishnaw said they should raise their concerns in the House rather than confining their politics to social media.

     "Parliament is the country's biggest panchayat. Come there and debate whichever issue you want. Can politics be done merely by tweeting?" he asked, while targeting Rahul Gandhi.

     He said politics was about winning the confidence of the people and not fighting battles on social media.

     Vaishnaw alleged that Congress leaders were interested only in creating obstacles rather than engaging in constructive debate.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)