Now we will also picket against PM Awas: Gehlot's warning

Assembly Speaker Joshi challenged the High Court's verdict in a hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday

(PTI) Jaipur, Ta. Saturday, July 25, 2020

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday warned that Congress MLAs would meet the President in New Delhi and also picket outside the Prime Minister's residence if needed to resolve the current political crisis after holding a picket at the Raj Bhavan on Friday to hold assembly sessions in Rajasthan.

With this, Ashok Gehlot's cabinet has approved the proposal to convene the assembly session on July 31. The proposal will now be sent to the governor anew. Congress workers, meanwhile, staged anti-BJP protests across Rajasthan, accusing the BJP of plotting to overthrow the state government and demanding an assembly session.

The pilot group, on the other hand, will hold a hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday against the High Court's verdict on the petition of the MLAs. Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi has challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court. In the midst of all this, a BJP delegation called on the Governor on Saturday.

The Congress staged a five-hour sit-in at the Raj Bhavan on Friday demanding an assembly session. At this time, Governor Kalraj Mishra had sought clarification from the Gehlot government on six issues.

After receiving the governor's letter, a cabinet meeting was held at Gehlot's house on Saturday in which a proposal seeking a July 31 assembly session was drafted. The draft was approved by the cabinet. Gehlot was scheduled to meet with the governor with the new draft, but could not meet with the governor until late at night.

Meanwhile, Congress sources said that at a meeting of the Congress Legislative Assembly held at the hotel where the Gehlot group of MLAs are staying, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that if necessary, the Congress MLAs would meet the President and hold a picket outside Prime Minister Modi's residence. He also asked the MLAs to be prepared to stay in the hotel for a longer period. The Gehlot group is demanding an assembly session to show the government is in the majority.

However, he ended the picket after Governor Kalraj Mishra assured him that there was no pressure on him and to act in accordance with the constitution. Governor Kalraj Mishra asked Chief Minister Gehlot to recommend a fresh assembly session to the Galhot government seeking clarification on six issues.

Meanwhile, Congress workers gathered in large numbers outside Jaipur and district headquarters on Saturday and chanted slogans against the BJP. He demanded that an assembly session be held.

A party leader in Bikaner said the BJP's conspiracy to overthrow the Gehlot government in Rajasthan would not succeed. The governor should call an assembly session. In Kota and Jaipur, Congress workers rallied and picketed. Congress workers staged similar demonstrations across the state.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan High Court on Friday ruled in favor of maintaining the status quo on the Speaker's notice disqualifying MLAs from the rebel pilot group. The High Court's decision was overturned by Speaker C.P. Joshi has challenged in the Supreme Court. The case will be heard in a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Monday at 11.00 am.

Amidst this political drama in Rajasthan, a delegation of the party led by BJP state president Satish Poonia and Leader of Opposition Gulabchand Kataria met the governor on Saturday. According to the BJP, the delegation had met the governor to discuss the situation in the state and give suggestions.