Hitting out at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said the judiciary, Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax (IT) department, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and election commission of India (ECI) are working under fear of the government.
He said earlier, people used to be scared of them but now, these agencies themselves are afraid thinking what order would come next from the top.
“Democracy is being weakened…the judiciary, ECI, enforcement directorate, income tax, CBI– all are scared.”
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He said whenever there are elections, a list is sent to the agencies with names of the places where the raids are to be conducted. “They (agencies) are not under pressure now but in fear of what will happen if the order from the top is not executed,” Gehlot said. Those who criticise the Centre are sent to jail, he said.
Meanwhile, as the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) on Tuesday entered its last leg in Rajasthan, completing 16 days and covering 485 km, the chief minister addressed the media persons on the sidelines of the BYJ.
Addressing media persons in Alwar, Gehlot said, “The BJY has received an overwhelming response due to which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are worried. The yatra has shaken the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.”
He said the prime minister, the home minister, and other BJP leaders are worried and they do not want the media to give much coverage to the yatra and are mounting pressure on the media.
The CM further demanded that right to health (RTH) should be enacted by the central government to make health a legal right for all.
Referring to ‘CM Chiranjeevi Yojana’ of Rajasthan government under which health insurance of ₹10 lakh is given, Gehlot said that this scheme should be implemented across the country by the centre.
Speaking on the social welfare schemes, Gehlot said his government would introduce a scheme for the welfare of the workers of app-based services such as Ola, Uber, Swiggy, and Zomato in the state budget.
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“Rahul Gandhi yesterday talked about the plight of such workers and they should also be provided social security,” said Gehlot.
He also said, “A law should be made in the parliament to ensure that no one sleeps empty stomach,” referring to SC’s statement that “no one sleeps hungry.” He said the Rajasthan government is doing and saying the same for a long time.
Addressing the media persons with CM Gehlot, state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara announced a state-level meeting of ministers, MLAs, MPs, All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) members to be held on January 26 and 27.
Responding to Gehlot’s statement, BJP MLA and spokesperson Ram Lal Sharma said for the last four years the CM is reiterating the same thing of atmosphere fear and hatred in the country, despite his claims, the people are with the Modi government.
The fear is instilled in those who are doing wrong, and such people should be under fear, Sharma said.
