Jaipur: The war of words has once again erupted between prominent leaders in Rajasthan politics. Union Arts and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched his sharpest attack yet on former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Shekhawat bluntly retorted, “Gehlot ji, if it weren’t for me, your political career would have ended.” He also made it clear that fear isn’t in his blood.
The war of words between the two leaders began when Gajendra Singh Shekhawat accused Ashok Gehlot of obstructing Congress leader Sachin Pilot’s path. Gehlot retorted, calling Shekhawat a “scared man” and saying he might be removed from his position as Union Minister. Shekhawat has now taken Gehlot to task for this statement.
“Fear isn’t in my blood, fear of becoming irrelevant is in you.”
Responding to Ashok Gehlot’s statement, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat wrote on the social media platform X on Monday:
“I follow the tradition of the revered brave Durgadas Rathore, Gehlot ji. Fear is not in my blood. On the contrary, you are haunted by the fear of becoming irrelevant, which is why you keep speaking against me. The truth is that if I had not been there, your politics would have ended.”
Continuing his attack on the former Chief Minister, Shekhawat further wrote that unlike Gehlot, he is not a servant of any “one family” (the Gandhi family). He alleged that Ashok Gehlot’s entire political career has been marked by a lust for power and a clinging to power, and therefore, he does not need any kind of “certificate” from Gehlot. Shekhawat said that Gehlot only engages in politics to divert public attention, while he himself is steadfast in his commitment to public service and that everyone will receive their due in due course.
This latest political slugfest began on June 6th in Jodhpur. Speaking to the media there, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that Ashok Gehlot was trying to release the “old genie” of Rajasthan by using West Bengal politics as an excuse. Shekhawat claimed that whenever the Congress high command considered giving Sachin Pilot a major position or new responsibility, Ashok Gehlot immediately came up with a new tactic or genie to block Pilot’s path. This statement has sparked political tensions between the two leaders from Rajasthan to Delhi.
