New Delhi: A war of words erupted between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s event in the town of Sikar, where he inaugurated multiple developmental projects Thursday.
Before the event, Gehlot tweeted that the PMO had removed a slot for him to make a three-minute speech from the day’s programme. The PMO rebutted saying that CM was invited and his speech was scheduled, but his office had said that he will not be able to attend the programme. It further urged Gehlot to join the programme if he could.
Gehlot responded once again by saying that his office had only informed the PMO that he would be joining via video conferencing due to injuries to both his feet — sharing a letter from his office to the Union government — but was told Wednesday night that his address had been cancelled.
The CM ultimately attended the event through video-conferencing “in the interest of Rajasthan”, but in “non-interactive mode”.
माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी,
आपके कार्यालय ने मेरे ट्वीट पर संज्ञान लिया परन्तु संभवत: उन्हें भी तथ्यों से अवगत नहीं करवाया गया है।
भारत सरकार के स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय से भेजे गए प्रस्तावित मिनट टू मिनट कार्यक्रम में मेरा संबोधन रखा गया था। कल रात को मुझे पुन: अवगत करवाया गया कि मेरा… pic.twitter.com/0Jp1tkmb2d
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) July 27, 2023
Rajasthan goes to polls later this year.
“Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Today you are visiting Rajasthan. Your office PMO has removed my pre-scheduled 3-minute address from the program, so I will not be able to welcome you through speech, so I heartily welcome you to Rajasthan through this tweet (sic)”, Gehlot tweeted.
He added that the inauguration and foundation laying of 12 medical colleges taking place Thursday were the result of the “partnership between the Government of Rajasthan and the Centre”.
“The project cost of these medical colleges is Rs 3,689 crore, of which Rs 2,213 crore is the share of the Center and Rs 1,476 crore of the state government. I also congratulate everyone on behalf of the state government,” he further said.
In response to Gehlot, the PMO tweeted: “In accordance with protocol, you have been duly invited and your speech was also slotted. But, your office said you will not be able to join…You are most welcome to join today’s programme. Your name is very much there on the plaque of the development works as well.”
It added: “Unless you have any physical discomfort owing to your recent injury, your presence will be deeply valued.”
श्री @ashokgehlot51 जी,
प्रोटोकॉल के अनुसार आपको विधिवत आमंत्रित किया गया था और आपका भाषण भी रखा गया था। लेकिन आपके ऑफिस ने बताया कि आप शामिल नहीं हो पाएंगे।
प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi की पिछली यात्राओं के दौरान भी आपको हमेशा आमंत्रित किया गया है और आपकी गरिमामयी उपस्थिति भी… pic.twitter.com/6MxBLmwcWq
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 27, 2023
PM hails Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, introduces ‘Urea Gold’
At the event in Sikar, Modi hailed the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, saying that farmers across the country had received approximately Rs 18,000 crore directly in their bank accounts because of the initiative. He further announced the introduction of ‘Urea Gold’ — a new variety of urea coated with sulphur — to help farmers who cultivate crops in the poll-bound state’s sulphur-deficient soil.
The PM also announced that around 1.25 lakh ‘PM Kisan Samriddhi Centres’ have been started, which will help farmers directly as they will not have to run to multiple places for information regarding farm-related activities and schemes. Along with that, he dedicated 1,500 Open Network Digital commerce (ONDC) facilities to the farmers of Rajasthan. “Through this, any farmer in any corner of the country will find it easier to send their produce to the market,” he said.
Modi further said that in Rajasthan, the Sikar and Shekhawati regions are the stronghold of farmers. “The farmers here have proved that nothing is impossible with hard work. Inspite of water scarcity, the farmers they have made bountiful gains from Mother Earth.”
The PM also held a public meeting in Sikar after the government event where he attacked the Ashok Gehlot government.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks on 'Laal Diary'; says, "The Congress has only run 'Loot ki dukaan' and 'Jhooth ka bazaar' in Rajasthan in the name of running government…The latest product of this is the 'Laal Diary' of Rajasthan. It is said that in this diary… pic.twitter.com/w0acOjzVul
— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2023
Gehlot’s 5 demands
In his tweet, Gehlot also put forth five demands to the central government that he said he would have otherwise spoken about in his speech.
These included the withdrawal of the Agniveer scheme, conducting a caste census, and national status for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP).
He further demanded that the Centre settle the Rajasthan government’s one-time payment proposal to waive farm loans from nationalised banks in the state. Gehlot also said that the central government should provide 60 percent funding for medical colleges in three tribal-dominated districts.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)