BJP team meets guv over Cong’s ‘anarchy’

nJAIPUR: State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Satish Poonia on Saturday met Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra along with a 14-member delegation to express displeasure over chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s comments related to convening of the assembly session to prove his majority.

Congress legislators backing Gehlot staged a five-hour sit-in on Friday, asking Mishra to call a special assembly session for a floor test. They accused Mishra of acting under pressure and ignoring their demand as Gehlot expressed confidence of winning the trust vote amid a power tussle with former deputy Sachin Pilot.

Poonia said Gehlot’s threat that the people will gherao the governor’s house if Mishra did not convene the session threatens peace. “The CM and his government are guilty of pushing the peace and calm into anarchy,” said Poonia. “There were scenes of anarchy on the streets today and the CM, who is also the home minister of the state, is morally responsible for this.”

He added demonstrations were held at district headquarters on the call of the ruling party in violation of Covid-19 guidelines. “The CM came to the Raj Bhavan with his MLAS, who shouted slogans; this led to anarchy. The pressure on the governor to get a decision in their favour is a derogatory attempt to threaten Constitutional institutions. They violated Covid-19 advisory on social distancing,” the memorandum said.

Ruling Congress spokesperson Archana Sharma linked the meeting to the BJP’S conspiracy to topple the government. “They are trying to delay the session and it is their tactic to topple the government in which they are not being successful. The meeting also proves that we have the majority.”

In a statement, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal announced the party will launch nationwide protests in front of different Raj Bhavans on July 26, accusing the BJP of “misusing the high constitutional office of the governor to destabilise the elected governments”.