Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing critique against the ruling Congress government in Rajasthan, alleging that communal clashes in the state were strategically planned. Shah asserted that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s administration failed to take decisive action against rioters, attributing the inaction to ‘vote bank’ politics.
Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur on the final day of campaigning for the Rajasthan Assembly elections, Shah cited numerous instances of what he deemed appeasement politics during Gehlot’s tenure. “Appeasement politics crossed all limits during Gehlot’s government. In the last 5 years, planned riots have taken place in Chhabra, Bhilwara, Karauli, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Nohar, Mewat, Malpura, and Jaipur,” he asserted. Shah criticized the Gehlot government for not taking concrete action against rioters, citing incidents such as the use of a bulldozer on Ram Darbar in Salasar, the breaking of a Shivalinga in Alwar with a drilling machine, and the ramming of a cow shed in Kathumar.
Expressing confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning the assembly elections, Shah declared, “In the last 6 months, I have been visiting Rajasthan. I have visited the entire state, and I want to say with confidence that the next government in Rajasthan will be formed by the BJP. There is a mood of change among the people in every corner of Rajasthan.”
Rajasthan is poised for assembly polls on November 25, with votes set to be counted on December 3. Out of the 200 assembly seats, 199 will be contested on November 25, as elections in the Karanpur constituency were adjourned following the passing of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar in 2018.
As the election date approaches, both the BJP and Congress are intensifying their campaigns, with star campaigners from both parties holding rallies and exchanging attacks. The BJP has consistently accused the Congress of indulging in appeasement for vote bank politics, while the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, has targeted the BJP on issues such as Adani and labeled the party’s top brass as “pickpocketers.”
A notable point in the campaign narrative is the mention of the “Red Diary” by Amit Shah, questioning Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot about it. Shah highlighted that people are questioning Gehlot regarding the ‘red diary,’ suggesting potential concerns within the Congress camp. The BJP has been asserting that the diary contains incriminating material against the Gehlot-led government.
The election discourse also brought attention to the alleged irregularities in the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections, with former Minister of State Rajendra Singh Gudha claiming corruption based on the contents of the “Red Diary.” The political atmosphere in Rajasthan is charged as the state gears up for a crucial electoral showdown on Saturday.
