Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday criticised the BJP government in the state over its proposal to hold a “2-year vs 5-year” debate on development, calling the move “illogical” and against democratic conventions.
Speaking to the media in the Assembly complex, Gehlot said no government at the Centre or in the states had ever made such a “murkhtapurn (foolish)” proposal. “This is not only illogical but also contrary to established democratic traditions,” he said.
The senior Indian National Congress leader alleged that the present government was either stalling projects initiated during the previous Congress regime or taking credit for them.
He said the BJP government had initially expressed willingness for a comparative debate between its two-year tenure and the Congress’ five-year rule from 2018 to 2023, but later shifted focus to discussing its own report card.
“Such arbitrary comparative debates have never been held. Instead, the government should have discussed the ground reality and sought real-time feedback from the people,” he said.
Gehlot claimed that several projects had already received financial sanction, completed tender processes and were launched during the Congress government, but were now being projected as achievements of the present dispensation. He added that some schemes and projects were ready for inauguration but had been delayed.
He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the narrative of a “Congress-mukt” or “Opposition-mukt” India, saying such ideas were a matter of concern. “Without an opposition, the very concept of democracy loses meaning,” he said.
Gehlot further objected to remarks made by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying such statements sent the wrong message and were not appropriate in a democracy.