Raje should face CBI inquiry over graft charges: Gehlot

Hitting out at Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje on the second anniversary of BJP government in the state, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot today said that she should step down from her post and face a CBI inquiry over the corruption charges levelled against her.
The former Chief Minister also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to examine and implement the "Vasundhara model" to fulfill his promise of bringing back black money.
"Corruption from top to bottom has become rampant in the state. Serious allegations have been made against Raje and she should come forward to face the charges and order a CBI inquiry. She has no moral right to continue as chief minister," he said.

"Raje showed that how black money could be brought and invested in her son's company via Mauritius route. Now, the Centre should examine the 'Vasundhara model' to bring back black money because PM failed to fulfill the promise he had made," Gehlot alleged at a press conference here.
He claimed that the 'Vasundhra model' might prove fruitful for Modi government which is silent despite several scams in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and has not taken action against them.
Gehlot also held Raje responsible for the death of former MLA Gurusharan Chhabra who died on November 3 during a dharna demanding a complete ban on liquor in the state.

"The CM is the responsible for his death. She did not have a dialogue...To end his agitation which led to his death," the former chief minister said.

Gehlot also claimed that Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria has no control over his department and officers and also demanded that he should step down.
"Crime-rate has increased in the state and common man is suffering. Minor girls are being raped, dreaded criminals escape from police custody but the home minister is boosting police's morale instead...," he said.
On Raje questioning the objections being raised on the
second anniversary celebrations, Gehlot said, "Rajasthan is not her personal estate that no one will ask for an account of the hard earned money of common people...What right do they have to misuse people's money?"

Expressing confidence that BJP will not be in power the next time, he warned corrupt officials of strict action. "I have already said that officials must work impartially. If they do so, there will be no issue but if they work in biased manner then we will not spare them," he said.
The former chief minister said that performance of the BJP government in two years in the state could not be analysed as "the government has done nothing."
"Farmers are suffering for fodder and seeds, compensation of crop damage due to excessive rains and hailstorm are pending, Barmer oil refinery is delayed for last two years which could had given employment to two lakh people and no progress on Dungarpur-Banswara-Ratlam rain line project are some of the examples of government's working," he said.

He also criticised the recently held Resurgent Rajasthan summit, terming it as "just a get-together of industrialists".