Ashok Gehlot accuses BJP of trying to topple his govt

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday accused the BJP of 'using' a Muslim leader in an attempt to topple his government while ignoring the community when it comes to fielding election candidates.

Jaipur:Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday again blamed the BJP for trying to topple his government. He also accused the BJP of "using" a Muslim leader in an attempt to topple his government while ignoring the community when it comes to fielding election candidates.

Gehlot made the charge while accusing BJP Rajya Sabha MP Syed Zafar Islam of being involved in alleged horse-trading during the revolt in July by a group of Congress MLAs led by former deputy CM Sachin Pilot.

Gehlot said "not one ticket" was given to Muslim candidates during the last assembly elections in the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and yet, he added, "A Muslim was being used to bring down the government."

The chief minister also alleged that union ministers Amit Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were among those involved in the "conspiracy" to destabilise the state's Congress government.

During a presser, Gehlot claimed he has proof that the state BJP leadership was also involved.

"Opposition is misleading people. He Loans from cooperative and land development banks have been waived but the nationalised banks are under the Reserve Bank of India. Why the Centre doesn't intervene in this," Gehlot said.

"The state government has even offered to shell out 50 per cent of the amount involved in waivers by nationalised banks," he added.

He accused the BJP government at the Centre not caring about the concerns of farmers who are protesting against the farm laws.

AICC general secretary Ajay Maken, Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra and state ministers were also present.