AHMEDABAD, July 29: The Congress has not taken kindly to Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela’s comments against party leader Chhabildas Mehta and others. While Gujarat PCC president Prabodh Raval yesterday warned him against meddling in the Congress’ internal affairs, All-India Youth Congress president Satyajit Gaekwad demanded a public apology from him and declared that the countdown for the fall of the State Government would begin on August 15.
At a public function in Champaner in Panchmahals district on Sunday, Vaghela had attacked the erstwhile Janata Dal(G) group in the Congress and said that it shouldn’t be accusing him of corruption when its own leaders were unclean. He had also dared Mehta to quit Congress if he differed with its policies.
Calling the CM’s remarks a breach of propriety, Raval said Vaghela had no right to advise Mehta or any other Congress leader to quit and form a new party. Mehta — a former chief minister was an important Congress leader and had every right to express his opinion, Raval asserted.
The PCC chief also criticised the nine-month-old Vaghela Government and demanded that the CM should order an independent inquiry to clear corruption charges against him and his ministry.
During his visit to Delhi, Raval said, he had discussed the political situation in the State, and the call for withdrawal of support to Vaghela.In a veiled warning to the CM, the PCC leader pointed out that at the last Congress Legislature Party meeting, almost all the MLAs had favoured parting of ways with the RJP.
He cited the amendment to the Urban Land Ceiling Act in this respect, charging that Vaghela had not been consulting the Congress while taking policy decisions. The CM had even failed to set up a coordination committee comprising representatives of the Congress and the RJP for smooth functioning of the Government, Raval pointed out.