Raje, 2 other BJP leaders helped save my govt during 2020 rebellion: Gehlot

Dholpur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday claimed Vasundhara Raje and two other BJP leaders had helped save his government during the 2020 revolt by his party MLAs.

He also took potshots at the rebel Congress MLAs saying they should return the money they had taken from the BJP so that they can carry out their duty without any pressure.

Gehlot’s then deputy Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs had revolted against his leadership in July 2020. The month-long crisis ended after the intervention of the party high command. Pilot was then removed as the deputy chief minister and state Congress president.

Addressing a programme in Dholpur, Gehlot said his government could be saved because of the support of three BJP leaders, former CM Vasundhara Raje, former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal and MLA Shobharani Kushwah. “(Union ministers) Amit Shah, GS Shekhawat and Dharmendra Pradhan conspired together to topple my government. They distributed money in Rajasthan and they are not taking the money back now. I am surprised why they are not demanding the money back from them (the MLAs),” he claimed. “I have even told the MLAs that whatever money they have taken, Rs 10 crore or Rs 20 crore, if you have spent anything, I will give that part or I will get it from AICC (All India Congress Committee),” he said. Gehlot alleged that if the MLAs did not return the money, they will always be under pressure from Amit Shah. “He is the Union home minister, he will intimidate...in Maharashtra he divided Shiv Sena,” Gehlot alleged. He said that he was made the Chief Minister by the party for a third time and it was his duty to take all along and forget past happenings and ensure the return of the party to power in the assembly elections, slated for later this year.