Gehlot blames Centre for diverting from ‘real issues’
JAIPUR: Launching a scathing attack on the central government, chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said they (central government) are being critic i s e d a l l o v e r , b ut a r e n’ t bothered and trying to divert public attention from the real issues of economic slowdown and unemployment.
“Where the democracy in the country is heading? The ruling dispensation is not concerned for real issues and was ignoring widespread protest on citizenship amendment bill,” he said, addressing a dharna (sit-in) staged by the Congress against the citizenship amendment bill at Gandhi Circle in Jaipur.
Gehlot said it is for the first time that there is an atmosphere of fear in the country after independence. People are resented and protests are happening, north-east is burning but the government is not concerned. What is the intention behind the citizenship amendment bill? The opposition is not being heard. We need to think where the democracy is heading.
“First time in their governance…in RSS-BJP governance, they are working arrogantly. The democracy is in danger. The economy is in poor shape. The employment is not provided but snatched,” he alleged.
He continued all the decisions are taken at the level of PMO. The PMO has centralized all powers. Institutions such as income tax department, enforcement directorate, CBI etc are being misused and are directed to take action.
Saying that the freedom to speak right is being curtailed, Gehlot said that the issue of Kashmir after abrogation of article 370 is discussed worldwide. “Human rights’ are violated in Kashmir and the government is criticized for that. The elected representatives are arrested and its been over 100 days. But now they are being exposed and people have taught them lesson in Maharashtra,” he said.
The CM said that the Congress
is holding a massive rally on the issue of farmers, unemployment and economic slowdown in Delhi on December 14 and asked the party workers to participate in large number.
State Congress president Sachin Pilot said the prices are touching sky be it of onion or petrol/diesel; no employment, economy etc but they are bringing and working on controversial issues to divert people’s attention.
He said in democracy it is the responsibility of the ruling government to ensure sentiments of people in and outside the parliament. “In article 14 of the consti
tution there is nowhere written that citizenship will be based on religion. If any individual seeking citizenship does not have a good character, have faced legal action or have no belief in any religion in India – cannot be a citi zen. But t his government brought bill on the basis of castes, which Congress is protesting,” he said.
BJP Spokesperson Mukesh Pareek said the minority communities such as Hindu, Sikh, Christian and Parsi from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have faced torture in these countries. It is necessary that they get chance to live respectfully. This Bill is nowhere based on any religion but with positive point of view but it is the Congress which plays politics of appeasement and vote bank.