Shivraj’s remarks on Scindias boomerang
Chouhan apparently wished to target Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia... But he forgot that if he targeted the Scindias, he would be hitting out at late Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, Yashodhara Raje Scindia and Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia too.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s statement criticising the Scindias during an election meeting in Ater assembly constituency seems to have boomeranged on the ruling party.
Ater goes to polls on April 9. Chouhan, who said the Scindias sided with the British before Independence, apparently backtracked when his comments did not go down well with several BJP leaders.
Sports minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia, who is the daughter of Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, was reportedly annoyed when she came to know about the statement. Without taking Chouhan’s name, she told media persons how Rajmata contributed to the growth of the party and even sold her daughters’ ornaments to fund its activities.
Peeved at the statement, she skipped an official programme in Gwalior and did not join party leaders for campaigning, said BJP sources.
A BJP leader said, “Chouhan apparently wished to target Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia as he is leading the party’s campaign in Ater. But he forgot that if he targeted the Scindias, he would be hitting out at late Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, Yashodhara Raje Scindia and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia too.”
Two other BJP leaders — former MP Raghunandan Sharma and former state minister Sartaj Singh — also indirectly disapproved of Chouhan’s statement by underlining the Rajmata’s significant role in the making of the BJP as a party.
However, later talking to journalists, Chouhan said he had utmost respect for Rajmata and the party could not forget her significant contribution.
State BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan also sought to play down the issue, saying what the chief minister said was in reference to history.
The Congress, meanwhile, attacked the chief minister for his remarks.