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Journalism of Courage
In Rajasthan, the BJP is pursuing its recent policy of not announcing a Chief Minister face. In a conversation with Vikas Pathak, Rajasthan BJP president C P Joshi says that when none was projected as the CM face in the Gujarat, Karnataka or Himachal Pradesh polls, the question of whether Raje would be the CM if the BJP wins should not arise. Excerpts:
It isn’t so. In Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallies and other rallies, all leaders were together. Then they went to their own programmes… Instead of all being together in one programme, it is better that all leaders do their own campaign events. (On Monday), I (was) also not there in the PM’s programme. All are doing their own rallies in different parts of the state.
All issues are there. Corruption, law and order, paper leak, women’s security and appeasement are all issues. People know they (the Congress) could not check inflation. Their people were involved in the paper leak. They could not ensure women’s security. They did not offer loan waivers to farmers. Petrol and diesel are more expensive in Rajasthan by Rs 10 to 12 a litre. Power is the most expensive in Rajasthan and the state is the highest in cyber crime. It is the highest in atrocities against Dalits and women. So, people are angry.
Was anyone projected in Gujarat, Himachal or Karnataka?… Where does this question come from?
This isn’t the first time. In all elections, people contest as Independents. When we are returning to power and people don’t get tickets, it happens.
Go to hospitals and find out. And had Ayushman Bharat of the Centre not been there, the situation would not have been this. They just changed the name and added some things, like including treatment of up to Rs 5-10 lakh. The question came up in the Assembly, and the answer was that there were just 232 such people (who availed the scheme). Beyond Rs 10 lakh, there is none. And in the hoardings, they are talking about treatments with expenses up to Rs 25 lakh.
If someone is involved in anti-national activities, what is the problem (with this)? And if someone is innocent, why fear?
Sexual assaults, on even children, are taking place. I am not saying this – the National Crime Records Bureau data is saying that Rajasthan is at the top in sexual assaults. Land mafia and sand mafia are active here. Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis are taking place. The government should stand with the people of the state. But look at their statements. The CM said 56% of sexual assault cases are fake. Former state home minister and Gehlot’s friend Shanti Dhariwal says in the Assembly, ‘This is a state of men, so sexual assaults are on the rise’. Are such statements supposed to be made? These raise the morale of predators.
