Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Governor Kalraj Mishra and Congress MLAs at Raj Bhawan. (Source: Rajasthan CMO/Twitter)
Soon Congress MLAs supporting the Ashok Gehlot camp ended the protest at Raj Bhawan premises, Governor Kalraj Mishra on Friday hit back at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and called the ‘dharna’ at Raj Bhawan ‘wrong trend’. In a letter to the Chief Minister, Mishra said, “you have publically said that if Raj Bhawan is ‘gheraoed’ then it is not your responsibility. If you and your Home Ministry can’t protect the Governor then what about law and order in state? What agency should be contacted for Governor’s security.”
“I’ve never heard such statement from any CM. Is this not the beginning of a wrong trend where MLAs protest at Raj Bhawan,” the Governor added.
The protest by the Congress was called off after Governor Kalraj Mishra gave them assurance to call a session of the Assembly after clarifications on some points from state Cabinet, Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
Earlier today, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claimed the governor was “under pressure from above” not to call an assembly session. He said, ” It’s unusual that the ruling party wants a floor test and the opposition doesn’t.”
Meanwhile, the Rajasthan High Court ordered “status quo” on the disqualification notice issued by the Assembly Speaker to a group of 19 rebel Congress MLAs, including former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. The order was delivered on a petition filed by the dissidents challenging their disqualification from the Assembly. A bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta also allowed the rebel MLAs to make the central government party to the case. The HC deferred its judgment till the Supreme Court decided on the matter.
The apex court Thursday said the outcome of the HC’s judgment would be subject to its final order on the matter, which is scheduled to be taken up on Monday, July 27. The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Speaker C P Joshi, who challenged the High Court order asking him to provide relief to the rebels.
Rajasthan Government crisis Live: The Jaipur bench of the Rajasthan High Court. (Express photo by Rohit Jain Paras/File)
Rajasthan cabinet meeting held over the holding of State Assembly session is currently underway. State Congress MLAs of the Gehlot camp, led by the chief minister, arrived at the Raj Bhawan earlier in the day in four buses from a hotel on the city outskirts where they have been camping for the past few days. They began a 'dharna' saying they will stay put till the governor summons a session of the state assembly.
Soon after Governer Kalraj Mishra assured the Congress MLAs on Assembly session, he wrote to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on protection of the Governor. "You have publically said that if Raj Bhawan is 'gheraoed' then it is not your responsibility. If you and your Home Ministry can't protect Guv then what about law and order in State? What agency should be contacted for Governor's security," said the Governor.
"I've never heard such statement from any CM. Is this not the beginning of a wrong trend where MLAs protest at Raj Bhawan," the Governor wrote in his letter.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged for a session of the Legislative Assembly in Rajasthan, In a tweet, he said , "The conspiracy to demolish the Rajasthan government is clear. This is an insult to the eight crore people of Rajasthan. "
Taking a dig at Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the Congress governement, BJP leader Sambit Patra on Friday said, "
manner in which Ashok Gehlot is working in Rajasthan with politicised bureaucracy, corruption and vendetta was exposed by media today. It was exposed that the wife & family of the then SOG head Anil Paliwal has business connections with the family of Ashok Gehlot."
"Anil Paliwal's wife is the promoter of Fairmont Hotel, where Congress MLAs have been staying and the partner of Vaibhav Gehlot - Ashok Gehlot's son - RK Sharma is associated with this hotel. A political and corrupt plot is before everyone today," he added
Keen to keep his flock intact and snuff out at the earliest a party rebellion led by former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Friday mounted an offensive against Governor Kalraj Mishra, claiming that he was not calling a session of the state Assembly because of “pressure from above”. Gehlot did not say who or what he meant by “pressure from above”, but he has been accusing the BJP of plotting with Pilot to topple his government. Read more
Meanwhile, in the case regarding Audio clips over alleged toppling of Rajasthan Government, the Anti-Corruption Bureau issued notice to Congress MLAs Vishvendra Singh and Bhanwar Lal Sharma. The Special Operations Group (SOG)also issued notices to Tanveer Singh, Balwant Singh, Digvijaya Raj Singh and Karni Singh.
The Congress MLAs supporting the Ashok Gehlot camp on Friday ended the protest at Raj Bhawan premises after Governor Kalraj Mishra gave them assurance to call a session of the Assembly after clarifications on some points from state Cabinet. Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said state Cabinet will meet at 9.30 PM to discuss and clear queries raised by the governor. Earlier today, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had claimed the governor was 'under pressure from above' not to call an assembly session. He said, ' It's unusual that the ruling party wants a floor test and the opposition doesn't.
The Rajasthan BJP Friday demanded the Centre deploy the CRPF to maintain law and order in the state, reacting sharply to Congress MLAs staging a 'dharna' at Raj Bhawan for convening a session of the state assembly. "The chief minister is saying that the public will come and gherao the Raj Bhawan. I would request the Centre that it deploy the CRPF in Rajasthan to maintain law and order. It should not trust the Rajasthan police," Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria said. PTI
The Congress in Rajasthan will hold demonstrations in all district headquarters on Saturday against the BJP's "conspiracy to murder democracy", the party said. This comes amid the political crisis in Rajasthan. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has accused the BJP of trying to topple his government. He has also accused his former deputy Sachin Pilot, who he is locked in a power tussle with, of colluding with the BJP to make his own party sink. "Congress workers will hold demonstrations in all district headquarters tomorrow at 11 am against the BJP's conspiracy to murder democracy," PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra said on Friday.
Hours after meeting Governor Kalraj Mishra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said he hopes that the Governor will not come under "any pressure" and that an Assembly session shall be called soon. Addressing the media outside the Raj Bhawan, Gehlot said, "one makes into history books only when one follows their constitutional duties...
"It's unusual that the ruling party wants a floor test and the opposition doesn't," he said adding that the Congress MLAs will continue to protest at Raj Bhawan till the Governor agrees for a session. Gehlot has sought commencement of the session from Monday, so he could prove his majority on the floor of the House.
Sanjay Jain, who was arrested by Special Operations Group(SOG) of RajasthanPolice has bee sent to judicial custody till 5th August. Both the BJP and Congress have accused him of being close to the other party. A native of Lunkaransar in Bikaner who shifted to Jaipur 15-20 years ago, Jain is known in the state capital’s political circles as a middleman who floated between the two parties. He, along with rebel MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat have been identified by the Congress in purported audio clips.
Congress MLAs demand Rajasthan Governorto call a session of Rajasthan Assembly
Governor Kalraj Mishra has stepped out and is talking to Congress MLAs who have been demanding a session of the Assembly on Monday.
Rajasthan Congress legislators and MLAs supporting the party can be seen chanting slogans like "Rajyapal mahodya House bulao" while protesting inside the Raj Bhawan premises.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has reached Raj Bhawan to meet Guv Kalraj Mishra. MLAs supporting Gehlot are on sit in protest inside Raj Bhawan demanding Assembly session.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, accompanied by Congress MLAs, is going to Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor. He is seeking an Assembly session from Monday.
A meeting of the Congress Legislative Party is underway at Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is addressing the MLAs, after which they are expected to go to Raj Bhavan where they will meet the Governor and seek a sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
Ashok Gehlot tells the Governor through a press conference that it "won't be our responsibility if the people of Rajasthan gherao Raj Bhawan". He is seeking a special sitting so he can prove majority on the floor of the House.
Gehlot tells the Governor he has a constitutional post, and must take a decision on convening an Assembly session, or the Congress MLAs will collectively approach him for the same. He asks the Governor to call a special sitting from Monday. "It is beyond our understanding why it was stopped," Gehlot says.
Gehlot claims there is pressure of the Governor from above. "Never seen such a naked display (of power) until now," he adds.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is addressing the press. He says he wants the Governor to hold a special sitting of the Assembly so the Congress can prove majority on the floor of the House. "We are ready to call a session," he tells the press, adding that he expected orders (to call a session) would've been issued last night.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and other Congress MLAs are expected to meet the Governor soon and seek a convening of a special session of the Assembly.
The Rajasthan HC has deferred its judgment on the case filed by Sachin Pilot, 18 other rebel Congress MLAs till the Supreme Court decides on the matter. The apex court is scheduled to take up a case related to the matter on Monday, July 27. The top court Thursday had said the outcome of the HC’s judgment would be subject to its final order on the matter.
The Rajasthan High Court has ordered "status quo" to be maintained on Assembly Speaker C P Joshi's notice to rebel Congress MLAs, including former deputy CM Sachin Pilot.
Outside court, Prateek Kasliwal, the lawyer representing Speaker C P Joshi, tells reporters: "The Rajasthan High Court has made Centre a party in the case against Congress, in the petition filed by Sachin Pilot and MLAs against the disqualification notice served to them. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) will represent the Centre in court," reports news agency ANI.
The bench of the Rajasthan HC hearing the rebel MLAs' plea has taken a short break. The hearing will resume soon.
The Rajasthan High Court has accepted the rebel MLAs plea to make the central government a party to the case, reports Hamza Khan in Jaipur. The High Court is delivering an order on the 19 MLAs' plea challenging their disqualification by the Assembly Speaker.
Congress Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi confirms that Kathumar MLA Babulal Bairwa has been admitted to hospital after complaining of breathing problems. He is among the MLAs residing at Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur. He has been admitted to Sawai Man Singh Hospital in the city.
The crisis in Rajasthan has the Congress leadership on tenterhooks. But some opposition parties are keenly observing the developments, too. Left parties want the crisis to be over so they can have talks with the Congress on seat-sharing for Bihar polls. It is learnt that AICC in charge Shaktisinh Gohil met a senior Left leader. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel too had a word with a top Left leader. The message was that Congress will set the ball rolling on seat talks once the Rajasthan crisis is over. From Delhi Confidential
At 10.30 am, a Rajasthan High Court bench will assemble in Court 1 to deliver its verdict on a petition filed by former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and 18 other rebel Congress MLAs challenging their disqualification from the Legislative Assembly by the Speaker. Stay tuned, as we bring you live updates
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said an Assembly session will be held soon, adding that his government had the numbers and would prove majority in the House even if the rebel Congress MLAs stay away. Speaking to reporters, he said the rebel MLAs, led by former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, had “lost their way”. Gehlot said, “Those being held hostage there (at a hotel in Haryana), guarded by bouncers, they are calling, (asking) how do we get out. They are unable to leave.
Hours after saying this, the Chief Minister met Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhawan.
With Rajasthan High Court set to pronounce on Friday its verdict on a petition by Sachin Pilot and 18 rebel Congress MLAs, challenging disqualification proceedings against them, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tells Manoj C G what went wrong, and how, in an interview.
"The crisis is not on account of anything related to performance of the state government. This problem has been created by over-ambition of Shri Sachin Pilot and a small group of MLAs of my party who are playing in the hands of the BJP. The Congress government in Rajasthan has a comfortable majority in the Assembly. We also enjoy support of the people. So the government is fully stable and will complete its full term," he says.
Today, the Rajasthan High Court will deliver its verdict on a petition filed by former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and 18 other rebel Congress MLAs challenging their disqualification from the Legislative Assembly by the Speaker. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest news on the Rajasthan political crisis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, just a while ago, paid a visit to State Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhawan, ANI reported. Agenda of the meeting is unknown.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said that the purported audio clips on toppling Congress govt are genuine and that it can be sent abroad for tests.
The Congress government in the state, that is fighting a revolt by 19 MLAs, has alleged that the leaked tapes that were widely circulated on social media had Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Congress MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma and and BJP leader Sanjay Jain conspiring against the government through exchange of money and shifting the loyalties of MLAs.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said that he is not scared any raids by central agencies and that he is confident about the majority in Assembly. Talking to the reporters, he said: "Congress' strength is nation's strength. Rahul Gandhi's interactions are on all issues&nation is listening. Modi ji is a good orator but ppl know it's a pandemic & they toppled MP govt. When ppl are at risk, they're trying to topple govt. People won't forgive."
Rebel Congress MLA from Todabhim in Karauli, Prithviraj Meena, has asked the Rajasthan High Court that the Union government be made a party in the matter being heard by the court concerning the notice sent by Assembly Speaker CP Joshi to 19 rebel MLAs led by former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot. In an impleadment application, Meena has prayed that the Union government be made a party through the Secretary of Ministry of Law and Justice (Dept. of Legal Affairs) “in the interest of justice and law.” Meena has said that by way of the accompanying petition, the petitioners – 19 MLAs – have challenged the constitutional validity of the Para 2 (1) (a) of the Schedule Ten of the Constitution of India.
Haryana Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi on Thursday said there is a sense of despair among party workers over the treatment meted out to young leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot, and also urged the leadership to promote mass leaders in every state in the war against the BJP. Taking on the old guard, he asked the Congress leadership to give other responsibilities to those who have been occupying high positions for 35 years and have never contested elections. Bishnoi, who is son of former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, triggered speculation when he posted a picture of himself with Scindia and Pilot on Twitter.
"Many congratulations @JM_Scindia. A well deserved one," he said along with the picture, on a day when Scindia took oath as Rajya Sabha member of the BJP. He also congratulated former Congress leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, who also took oath as a Shiv Sena member of Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. "Sincere congratulations @priyankac19 on your hard-earned success. Best wishes for a bright future." While Scindia has quit the party, Pilot has raised a banner of revolt against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan and is on the verge of quitting, even though he has claimed that he is not joining the BJP.
A Bench of Justice Arun Mishra refuses the request of Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi to stay the Rajasthan High Court proceedings on Sachin Pilot and MLAs petition against disqualification notice. The Supreme Court will now hear on July 27, plea of Rajasthan Assembly Speaker against HC order.
Senior Advocate Harish Salve for Sachin Pilot camp opposes Sibal’s plea for stay of proceedings before HC. Says Speaker has agreed to defer hearing on disqualification notices.
Justice Mishra says this matter reqires detailed hearing. 'This will require detailed hearing as we have to consider issue of jurisdiction.' To which Sibal says, 'Then let HC order be stayed or matter will become infructuous. If not stayed, it will be giving rebel MLAs time to do what they want.'
"If SC doesn’t want to stay HC order, then let the matter be transferred here or let further proceedings before HC be stayed. Every judicial order has political consequences. So it’s better that further proceedings are stayed if you don’t want to stay HC order."
Sibal says, "The MLAs were given chance to voice their grievances. There are decisions which say not attending meeting even outside amount to voluntary giving up of membership of party. I as Speaker have to examine conduct of members. That they did not attend two meetings is just one aspect of it. Neither can HC not SC decode that."
Sibal says the issue whether disqualification process against MLAs is permissible or not cannot be taken note of at this stage. "There are allegations against them. They have made statements. Why are they not replying? If they are voicing their opinion, they should come to the party and explain. It’s for them to explain. I can’t say anything, neither can HC ask me to do something."
After hearing Rajasthan Speaker's plea against HC order, the Supreme Court says dissenting voice in a democracy cannot be shut down. "This is no simple matter, these MLAs are elected representatives. Trying to find out whether disqualification process against MLAs was permissible or not."
The Supreme Court asks the Speaker reason for the initiation of disqualification proceedings against Sachin Pilot and 18 dissident Congress MLAs. "On what grounds disqualification was sought?" To this Sibal replies, "MLAs didn't attend party meeting, they're indulging in anti-party activities. They're in a Haryana hotel, incommunicado and sought floor test against their own party."
Sibal refers to whip by Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi to rebel MLAs asking them to attend CLP meet. Court asks if whip can be issued for something happening outside House. To this, Sibal says: "Whip not defined. Chief Whip filed a disqualification plea before the Speaker who issued notice."
Sibal refers to statements by rebel MLAs to media seeking the vote of confidence and making imputations against Congress state Govt.
Kapil Sibal further says, "There can't be a protective order at this stage. When Rajasthan High Court extended time to reply on notices and said no directions will be passed, that was a protective order."
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi says, the court can’t direct the Speaker to extend the time to file their replies to the anti-defection notices. It’s not in the jurisdiction of the court, Sibal says. Sibal Also says, 'The proceedings under the Tenth Schedule before the Speaker are proceedings of the Legislature and as such cannot be interfered with.
Supreme Court starts hearing an appeal filed by Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi, against the Rajasthan High Court order to defer anti-defection proceedings against former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and 18 breakaway Congress MLAs till July 24.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted nationwide raids, including at properties of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s brother Agrasen, in connection with an alleged fertiliser scam.
The agency conducted raids at 13 places in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat and Delhi, sources said. In Jodhpur, ED officials searched multiple properties of Gehlot’s company, Anupam Krishi.
The scam concerns alleged illegal export of Muriate of Potash (MoP), which is imported by Indian Potash Limited (IPL) and distributed to farmers, through companies, at subsidised rates. According to officials, between 2007 and 2009, Agrasen, who was an authorised dealer for IPL, bought MoP at subsidised rates and instead of distributing to farmers, allegedly sold it to a few companies.
Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi said on Wednesday that he is “miffed with the Rajasthan High Court directions” to him. On Tuesday, the court had “requested” Joshi to extend the period given to the rebel Congress MLAs to reply to his notice after the court deferred its order on the petition till July 24.
Joshi said on Wednesday that he has directed his counsel to file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court to avoid a “constitutional crisis”. The SLP was subsequently filed in the Supreme Court.
Rebel Congress MLA from Todabhim in Karauli, Prithviraj Meena, has asked the Rajasthan High Court that the Union government be made a party in the matter being heard by the court concerning the notice sent by Assembly Speaker CP Joshi to 19 rebel MLAs led by former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot.
In an impleadment application, Meena has prayed that the Union government be made a party through the Secretary of Ministry of Law and Justice (Dept. of Legal Affairs) “in the interest of justice and law.”
Meena has said that by way of the accompanying petition, the petitioners – 19 MLAs – have challenged the constitutional validity of the Para 2 (1) (a) of the Schedule Ten of the Constitution of India.
In the Supreme Court, Joshi said he was “constrained to move this instant Special Leave Petition urgently” as the High Court “has intervened in pending Tenth Schedule proceedings at the initial notice stage itself and restrained” him “from even calling for replies and conducting the disqualification proceedings pending against the respondents till 24.07.2020.”
The petition, filed through Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Vivek Tankha and Advocate Sunil Fernandes, said the High Court’s order “is in effect a stay on the powers of the Speaker under the Tenth Schedule to adjudicate on a disqualification petition”.
“The proceedings under the Tenth Schedule before the Speaker are proceedings of the Legislature and as such cannot be interfered with, as repeatedly held by this Hon’ble Court, as envisaged under Article 212 read with para 6(2) of the Tenth Schedule,” said the petition.
Joshi said, “As a Speaker, the group is not important for me. I have received a complaint from the Congress chief whip. And on the basis of that, I have given notices. That is all. I have not proceeded further. And in between, this has happened. The courts cannot intervene before the Speaker decides on the disqualification. Then the Speaker cannot do anything,” he said. “As a Speaker, then I am only a silent spectator. Then what am I the Speaker for, if I cannot use the powers given to the Speaker."
“For me, it is not about Sachin Pilot or Ashok Gehlot. I am the Speaker. The 1992 judgment of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court and all judgments after that, including the recent one on Manipur, make it clear that the court can only intervene after the Speaker decides on the disqualification… This is the set principle of law,” he said.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Joshi said while he did not want a confrontation with the judiciary, the law is clear that courts cannot intervene before the Speaker decides on the disqualification.
He said he had only issued showcause notices to the MLAs on a complaint filed by the Congress chief whip. “Showcause notice is simply to get information. That is standard practice. When a complaint is received, a showcause notice is issued. I have not taken any decision on it,” he said.
“I don’t want confrontation. Whatever they (High Court) have decided, we have agreed to it… But the fact of the matter is that the judgment given by the Constitution Bench in 1992 was very clear – that it is totally in the domain of the Speaker to decide on disqualification of members, and no court can intervene in between,” said Joshi.
Hours after Joshi filed his petition, Pilot filed a caveat in the Supreme Court urging it to hear him before passing any order.
Welcome to our Rajasthan crisis LIVE blog. Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday, a day after the state high court asked him to defer action on the disqualification notices issued to former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and his 18 MLAs till July 24. A Bench of Justices Arun Mishra, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari will hear the matter today. Track all the latest updates here