PM Modi's visit to Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot cries foul, says his speech cancelled; PMO says not true

NewsBharati    27-Jul-2023 12:22:04 PM
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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) removed his three-minute address listing demands, including scrapping the Agniveer scheme and loan waiver, from the schedule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s program in Sikar for inaugurating and the laying foundation of 12 medical colleges in poll-bound Rajasthan.
 
 
modi ashok gehlot
The PMO responded immediately saying Gehlot’s office conveyed that the chief minister will not be able to join the programme. It added the chief minister was duly invited and his speech was also slotted as per protocol.
 
"Shri @ashokgehlot51 Ji, 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. During PM @narendramodi’s previous visits as well you have always been invited and you have also graced those programmes with your presence.
 
 
You are most welcome to join today’s programme. Your name is very much there on the plaque of the development works as well. Unless you have any physical discomfort owing to your recent injury, your presence will be deeply valued," the PMO office tweeted.
 
Earlier in the day, Gehlot tweeted that his three-minute speech was removed from the programme that would be attended by PM Modi in Rajasthan. He said he would be able to welcome him to the state through a tweet.
 
"Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today you are visiting Rajasthan. Your office, PMO, has removed my pre-scheduled three-minute address from the programme. So, I will not be able to welcome you through the speech. I heartily welcome you to Rajasthan through this tweet," Gehlot tweeted in Hindi.
 
In the tweet, he listed the demands while highlighting that this was PM Modi’s seventh visit to Rajasthan in six months. He cited the demand of the youth, especially of Rajasthan’s Shekhawati region, and said the permanent recruitment in the army should be restored by withdrawing the Agniveer scheme, which sparked protests last year over reduced tenure and fewer post-service benefits.
 
 
Gehlot said the state government has waived loans worth ₹15,000 crore of 2.1 million farmers from all the cooperative banks under it. “We have sent a one-time settlement proposal to the central government to waive the loans of nationalised banks...This demand should be fulfilled.”
 
He asked the central government to take a decision caste census without any delay while referring to the Rajasthan assembly resolution over it. Gehlot said medical colleges in three districts built entirely with the state’s funding were not getting any financial assistance from the central government. “The central government should also give 60% funding to the medical colleges in these three tribal-dominated districts,” Gehlot said. He demanded the status of a project of national importance for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project.
 
Modi will also transfer money under the Kisan Samman Nidhi into the accounts of 90 million farmers before addressing a gathering of farmers in Sikar.
 
Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajendra Rathore tweeted thanking Gehlot for at least accepting the central government’s Rs 2,213 crore contribution to medical colleges in the state. “It would have been better if you had paid attention to the faculty and other resources in the previously operated medical colleges.”
 
 
Rathore questioned why did not Gehlot keep his poll promise to waive the loan of the farmers in 10 days. “Now the government’s tenure is in the last stage...so you are demanding loan waiver from the central government.”
 
Rathore said Gehlot was rejecting Agniveers even as the country has accepted them. “...lakhs of youth across the country are taking advantage of the Agneepath scheme to serve the nation. Why this narrowness?”
Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot PM Narendra Modi PMO