Amid a war of words between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bette noir Sachin Pilot over the former’s “praise” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress has sought to play down the controversy over the matter and said that Gehlot did not praise the PM but showed him the mirror.
Gehlot during an event in Mangarh in Rajasthan’s Banswara district on Tuesday had said that PM Modi gets respect globally because he leads a country that has “deep roots in democracy”. The Prime Minister, who was also present at the function, also praised the Congress veteran and called him one of the senior-most CMs.
The mutual appreciation between the two leaders evoke a sharp reaction from former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, who cautioned that PM Modi’s remarks for Gehlot should not be taken lightly.
Pilot, whose chances of becoming the Rajasthan CM was recently thwarted after a revolt by Gehlot loyalists, also urged his party to end the “state of indecision” over the chief minister’s post.
Responding to a question about the remarks by Pilot, who had led a rebellion in 2020 against the Gehlot, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, “You asked me a question on what Ashok Gehlot ji was talking about… With my own little understanding, I think that he did not praise the PM, he showed a mirror to Modi ji in the gathering.”
“If I tell the person sitting next to me that your respect is not from you, your respect is because you come from a country which is Gandhi ji’s country, Nehru ji’s country, Ambedkar ji’s country, where democracy is strong, I think this would be a matter of insult. I don’t know who sees respect in this,” she said.
Seeking to rebuff the resumption of hostilities between Gehlot and Pilot, Shrinate said both have reiterated time and again that all have to work together so that Congress government is repeated in Rajasthan.
Taking a swipe at Gehlot over PM Modi’s praise for him, Pilot had said on Wednesday, “The PM praised the chief minister and this is an interesting development because the prime minister had praised Ghulam Nabi Azad in the same manner in the House in Parliament. And we all have seen what circumstances were created after that.”
The Rajasthan CM later urged party leaders to maintain discipline” and desist from making statements and said the focus should be on winning the next Assembly poll.
