Shruti Suman
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the poll-bound state of Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has leveled a significant accusation. Just hours before the scheduled event in Sikar, Gehlot stated on Twitter that the Prime Minister’s Office had canceled his pre-scheduled 3-minute speech, leaving him unable to welcome Modi through a formal address. Instead, he extended his warm welcome to the Prime Minister through the same tweet.
Gehlot listed the demands he had intended to raise during his speech, expressing hope that PM Modi would take note of them during his ongoing Yatra (journey) across the state, aimed at various development initiatives.
In response, the Prime Minister’s Office refuted Gehlot’s claim, asserting that it was the Chief Minister who declined to attend the program. According to the PMO, Gehlot had been duly invited, and his speech was included in the schedule. They clarified that Gehlot had always been invited to previous visits by PM Modi and had attended those events as well. The PMO emphasized that Gehlot was more than welcome to join the current program, pointing out that his name was already acknowledged on the plaques of various development projects. They added that if his recent injury posed any physical discomfort, his absence would be understandable, but otherwise, his presence would be greatly appreciated.
Thus, there seems to be a disagreement between Ashok Gehlot and the Prime Minister’s Office over the reasons for his absence from the scheduled event.
