Sawal To Banta Hai: In an exclusive conversation with India TV on its show 'Sawal To Banta Hai', Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat spoke at length and breadth on the current political developments, including the Opposition's protest over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the membership of the Parliament and Rajasthan politics.
On the question, is the Modi government targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi? Shekhawat replied Congress leaders are unnecessarily dragging the government into the disqualification row. He was disqualified because he made derogatory remarks against a specific caste and the court asked him to apologise but he denied resulting in his conviction, BJP leader added.
The follow-up legal actions after the court order were imminent and the government has no role in this, actions were taken under the Representatives of the People Act, 1951, and the law was not made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it is not prudent to blame PM Modi for this, he explained.
India is a place where democracy was born and nourished, he (Gandhi) was defaming the Indian democracy on foreign soil which is not good, and also linking Gandhi's democracy remarks row with the Surat court order is not correct, the two are two different issues, the minister said.
To justify and escape from Rahul Gandhi's remarks against Indian democracy, Congress leaders are creating outrage against the government, he added.
On the question about Adani-Modi link allegations
Adani is a good man if he invests in Congress-ruled states, and he turned into a devil if he does business in other states, this is a sheer double standard, Shekhawat said.
Lies are being spread by the Opposition leaders, why lands have been given to Adani in Rajashtan and why have chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his son praised Adani, he asked.
Question on OBC row
On the OBC row, he said it was the VP Singh government that implemented the Mandal Commission recommendation and gave reservations to OBC, not Congress.
Question on Sachin Pilot row
Due to infighting between Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot, the CM's all focus remained on saving his government throughout the last five years and consequently, the people in the state suffered a lot, he said. The minister claimed all that Gehlot did in the last couple of years was an appeasement to keep his house in order.
Is BJP responsible for the Gehlot-Pilot feud?
Taking a jibe at the duo, Shekhawat said in Hindi, "Miya bibi ke jhagade me padosi ko kyon pakadana (Why a neighbor to be blamed in fighting between a husband and a wife). What happened later, 'nikkama and nakada kinds of words flew in Congress camp, he added.
Does BJP try to topple the government?
If someone wants to join us and strengthens our house then nothing is wrong in the democratic setup, the problem is with their (Congress') house not with ours," he added.
Shekhawat or Vasundhara Raje, who is BJP's CM face?
Shekhawar said Raje is a very reputed politician and she has been guiding the party for a long time and in his party responsibilities are being given by the party's parliamentary board.
"I belong to a culture and tradition, where we don't think about the designation but work as per responsibilities given by the organisation, I have been working since student union days, he asserted.
