Defiant Tiwari says will continue crusade against Raje, plans rallies to highlight graft
Refusing to back down in his fight against chief minister Vasundhara Raje, senior BJP MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari has said he will mobilise activists and organise ‘Kranti sammelan’ in each assembly segment to highlight the issue of corruption.
Tiwari, who was served a notice by BJP’s national disciplinary committee earlier this month, said he had no plans to change his course.
“My fight is against Raje and not against the BJP. If she is removed (as chief minister), I will end my struggle; otherwise, it will continue. I have no plans to leave the party. I have already replied to the notice. The ball is now in their court,” Tiwari told HT.
Tiwari said he will create a force of 1,000 activists in each assembly segment under the banner of Deendayal Vahini, a private outfit floated by him. “We will organise kranti sammelans and cover all the assembly segments by October or November,” he said. “The aim is to remove corruption, restore Rajasthan’s pride, and implement the economic policies as envisaged by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay,” he added.
In his reply to the indiscipline notice, Tiwari said, “I will not bow down to the corrupt and inferior leadership.” The MLA has accused the state party unit of having become a place for mafias and sycophants by sidelining the dedicated, loyal and qualified people. Tiwari has also been vocal against the Rajasthan Ministers Salaries (second amendment) Bill 2017 alleging that it was an attempt by the CM to continue occupying her present residence for life.
Deendayal Vahini has in the past raised issues of reservation for Gujjars, which was struck down by the Rajasthan High Court recently, and justice for the marginalised sections of society at its public gatherings. The move had not gone down well with the Raje camp.
The state BJP has rejected all the charges levelled by Tiwari and has in turn alleged that he was indulging in anti-party activities ever since he was denied the ministerial berth.
In a signed statement released last week, two cabinet ministers Yunus Khan and Prabhulal Saini said, “Tiwari should explain how he got money to buy 800 bigha of land and whether the land bank he has developed on Sirsi Road and in Sikar is his ancestral property.” The two ministers claimed that Tiwari’s attacks on the CM were part of a conspiracy by the Congress.