New Delhi: Launching poll-bound Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat prepare Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jibe at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as he thanked him for attending the inauguration occasion despite the political turmoil in his state.
The broadside got here a day after Gehlot’s bête noir and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot held a starvation strike in opposition to his personal authorities to demand the CM order a probe into corruption expenses in opposition to the earlier Vasundhara Raje-led BJP authorities.
“I congratulate Gehlot ji. Nowadays, he’s dealing with quite a lot of political forwards and backwards and challenges. Regardless of that, he took outing for improvement and got here right here. He participated in my occasion. I welcome him and in addition thank him,” Modi stated, addressing the ceremony just about.
“I need to inform him (Gehlot) — You’ve ladoos in each palms. The Railways Minister (Ashwini Vaishnaw) is from Rajasthan, and the Chairman of Railway Board (Anil Kumar Lahoti) can be from Rajasthan,” he added.
The Delhi Cantt-Ajmer Vande Bharat Specific was the sixth Vande Bharat to be flagged off within the final two months, Modi stated.
The Prime Minister additionally talked about his “friendship” with the Rajasthan chief minister.
“The work that ought to’ve been executed proper after Independence, hasn’t occurred until now, however you belief me a lot that you just’ve left the work to me. Your belief reveals the facility of my friendship. And it’s this friendship due to which you belief me. I thanks,” Modi stated, taking potshots on the Congress veteran.
Quickly, Gehlot issued a response stating that it was unlucky that the Prime Minister had marred the tenure of all earlier railway ministers.
“You’ve already introduced down the delight of the Railways by disposing of a separate Railways Funds in your tenure. In the present day, if trendy trains are plying, it’s as a result of in 1991, Dr. Manmohan Singh instituted financial liberalisation and made it attainable for brand spanking new know-how to develop in India. World over, time has led to technological development due to which India acquired new know-how and was in a position to enhance its Railways. It’s not right to say that improvement work within the Railways occurred solely after 2014,” Gehlot wrote within the assertion revealed in Hindi.
The Rajasthan chief minister asserted that Modi’s speech was made within the context of the state and common elections and within the pursuit of the BJP’s ballot agenda.
“I don’t assume these statements of yours shall be acceptable to these in and outdoors the nation,” Gehlot added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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