Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Rajasthan’s Sikar district, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said his pre-scheduled three-minute address in the programme had been removed. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) immediately refuted Mr. Gehlot’s charge, saying it was the Chief Minister’s Office which said he would not be able to attend it.
Mr. Gehlot said since his speech had been removed, he would not be able to welcome Mr. Modi in the event. He listed his demands for the State through a tweet, which he would have placed in the programme had his address been allowed. The inauguration and foundation laying of 12 medical colleges was the result of partnership between the State government and the Centre, he added.
In its reaction, the PMO said Mr. Gehlot had been duly invited in accordance with the protocol, but his office said he would not be able to join. “During the PM’s previous visits as well, you have always been invited and you have also graced those programmes with your presence,” it said in a tweet.
“You are most welcome to join today’s programme. Your name is very much there on the plaque of the development works as well,” the PMO said. Unless the Chief Minister had any physical discomfort owing to his recent injury, his presence would be deeply valued, the PMO stated, while referring to Mr. Gehlot’s injury in his toes from which he is recovering.
Mr. Gehlot said he was welcoming Mr. Modi through the tweet, while pointing out that this was his seventh visit to Rajasthan during the last six months. He said his demands pertained to permanent recruitment in the Army, loan waiver for farmers in the nationalised banks, caste census, Central funding for medical colleges in tribal-dominated districts and the national project status for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project.
Mr. Gehlot later responded to the PMO’s tweet, while affirming that it had not been made aware of the facts. “My address was kept in the proposed minute-to-minute programme by the Union Health Ministry. [But] I was informed last night that I would not be addressing,” he said.
The Chief Minister said his office had informed the Union government that he would attend the programme through video conferencing as per the doctors’ advice because of his foot injury, and the State Ministers would reach the venue.
“Even now, I will participate in the programme in the interest of Rajasthan in a non-interactive mode through video conferencing,” Mr. Gehlot said, while sharing the minute-to-minute programme as well as the letter sent by his office on the Twitter account.
