Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot Seeks CBI, ED Raids Against Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Monday attacked Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, saying the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate should raid his premises as the BJP leader's name has cropped up in a credit society scam. Gehlot's remarks have come days after a Jaipur court directed that the Rajasthan Police should probe a complaint alleging the involvement of Shekhawat in the Rs 900-crore Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam.

Shekhawat has been named along with his wife and others in the complaint related to the scam. Earlier, a magistrate's court had rejected an application to include him in the charge sheet. The applicants then approached the additional district judge's court, which issued directions that their complaint should also be probed.

Taking up the issue, Gehlot said people will not accept a leader who is "involved in a scam". "The CBI and the ED raids should be conducted on his premises," he told reporters after arriving Jaipur from Jaisalmer, where Congress MLAs are holed up amid allegations of horse-trading.

The Rajasthan chief minister also targeted Shekhawat for his alleged role in the "conspiracy" to topple his government. Gehlot called the Jodhpur MP as an over-ambitious leader, who "should have shown patience" but acted "hurriedly". The Congress has accused Shekhawat of involvement in the "conspiracy" to topple the Ashok Gehlot government in the state on the basis of audio clips having purported conversation regarding the alleged plot.

The Rajasthan chief minister also rejected the claim of dissident Congress MLAs that their work was not being done. He told reporters that the MLAs earlier used to appreciate the government's work and now they are complaining about it.

He said people elected them but now they have "revolted". Gehlot said it is unfortunate that the BJP is making repeated attempts to topple his government and that too amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"The public is seeing this all. They understand what is going on. They (BJP) are trying to topple an elected government. They should stop this and let the state government function," he said. The chief minister also reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should hold a two-day video conference with chief ministers of states to review the COVID-19 situation.