Page 17 - Ashok Gehlot

Will perform magic tricks to earn money, but won't let people down: Gehlot

Terming himself as 'Pratham Sewak' of the people of Jodhpur, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said if the need arises he would earn money by performing magic tricks, but would not let the people of this Rajasthan district down. The 72-year-old Congress leader was born into a family of professional magicians in Jodhpur. He made the statement while addressing the people during the inauguration of a newly built road 'Rao Jodha Marg' for the convenience of the tourists visiting the 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort. While citing his role in the development of Jodhpur, Gehlot said he had become the MP for the first time 42 years back. "What was Jodhpur then? No water, no train. But today, it has water, electricity, trains, roads, education and health infrastructure. I left nothing to be desired in these years," he said. He said if somebody does a research on Jodhpur, they would learn about its development and see what Jodhpur was and what has it become now. He also wished for United .

Centre not even bothered: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on wrestlers' protest

Hitting out at central govt over protest by wrestlers demanding the arrest and sacking of WFI chief, Rajasthan CM on Saturday said it wasn't even bothered about the plight of the women grapplers

CM Gehlot stresses on starting production from Barmer refinery by 2025-end

Describing the Pachpadra (Barmer) refinery as an ambitious project for the entire country, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday stressed on starting commercial production from it by the end of next year. Gehlot said that this project will make Rajasthan a hub of petroleum based industries. The CM on Friday held a review meeting of the HPCL- Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) project at Pachpadra in Barmer. "Pachpadra Refinery is an ambitious project not only for Rajasthan but for the whole country. This is the first refinery where a petro-chemical complex for the manufacture of petroleum by-products is being developed," a release quoting Gehlot said. The chief minister said that planned investment here would provide employment to the local people and revenue to the state. Along with this, immense possibilities will arise for various industries. According to the statement, Gehlot said in the meeting that the pace of development will increase with the commencement of ...

My govt fulfilled 90% of election promises: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday claimed that his government has fulfilled 90 per cent of its election promises and the state government aims to provide relief to the common man. He further claimed to have not imposed even a single new tax in the last five years. "I have completed almost 90 per cent of promises made in the Congress manifesto. I presented five budgets as finance minister and did not impose new taxes," he said while addressing the inauguration-foundation ceremony of development works worth Rs 143 crore in Barmer. "That is why schemes for public welfare are being executed," he added. Gehlot appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring a new law to give the right to social security to the masses, adding that the Congress-led state government aims to provide relief to the common people. He also demanded the Centre to allocate an additional budget for the arid state. The chief minister said due to the geographical conditions of Rajasthan, the cost o

How did govt's debt rise to Rs 155 trn, Ashok Gehlot asks PM Modi

Gehlot has questioned the Narendra Modi dispensation on liabilities of the Centre soaring to Rs 155 lakh crore which was Rs 55 lakh crore when the prime minister assumed office in 2014

Rajasthan Cong announces 1st 100 units electricity free for all households

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday announced waiving charges for the first 100 units of electricity for all households irrespective of their total consumption per month. "The first 100 units of electricity will be given free of cost to families who consume more than 100 units per month. That is, no matter how much the bill comes, they will not have to pay any electricity charge for the first 100 units," he tweeted. The chief minister said that keeping the middle-class people in mind, those who consume electricity up to 200 units per month, the first 100 units will be free. Along with this, fixed charges, fuel surcharge and all other charges for consumption up to 200 units will be waived, he said. According to sources, only electricity charges need to be given between 100 to 200 units. Gehlot made the announcement based on feedback received during inflation relief camps in which registration for 10 schemes including the free electricity scheme is being done. The ..

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Ashok Gehlot hopefull to work with Sachin Pilot, stresses on 'patience'

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday expressed the hope that he and his bete noire Sachin Pilot would work together and win the assembly polls in the state later this year, and called upon Congress workers and leaders to exercise "patience" and wait for their opportunity to serve in some capacity. His statement comes a day after the two Rajasthan bigwigs met the Congress leadership here and the party projected unity among them to take on the BJP in the state elections later this year. "I remember the words of Sonia Gandhi who at the Congress convention had asked party workers to have patience and they would get to serve the party in some way. I keep this in my heart and tell partymen to have patience. They would get the opportunity to serve the party in some way. So I call for patience, patience, patience" he said. He expressed confidence he and Pilot would work together after they agreed on a truce before the party high command. "If he (Sachin Pilot) is in the party th

Cong projected unity but 'issues' between Gehlot, Pilot unresolved: Rpts

The Congress has projected unity to take on the BJP in the assembly polls in Rajasthan but "core issues" between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot remain unresolved, according to sources close to Pilot. The Congress on Monday said the two leaders have agreed to the party's "proposal" and will fight the upcoming assembly elections unitedly, having left all issues to be resolved by the high command. However, the sources said Monday's meeting of Gehlot and Pilot with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi did not result in any resolution of the "core issues" between the two Rajasthan bigwigs. They also said Kharge and Rahul Gandhi first met Gehlot for two hours and then met Pilot separately after which all the leaders posed together for photographs at Kharge's residence. Interestingly, despite the meeting being held in the same house, the leadership held discussions with Gehlot and Pilot separately. Also, for the media bite outside Kharge's 10 Rajaji

KC Venugopal declares a united fight against BJP in Rajasthan elections

After a meeting with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the Congress on Monday projected a united front saying that the two leaders will fight together against BJP

Gehlot lays foundation stone of reconstruction of Rajasthan House in Delhi

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday laid the foundation stone of the new Rajasthan house on Prithviraj Road here. Gehlot said the reconstruction of the historical Rajasthan House has been his government's priority so that the guests coming to national capital from the state can get good facilities. The reconstruction of the state guest house will incorporate the artistic architectural style that represents the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan, a statement said. Gehlot said his government is strengthening historical and important buildings such as Circuit Houses and Dak Bungalows including those in the state. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said he believes the democracy becomes strong if it is practised according to the Constitution. He said his government made budget allocations in such a way that it bridges the gap between the lot of poor and rich. Relief is being provided to people reeling under inflation through 'Mehangai Rahat Camps,' he said. Ge

No tradition in Congress to offer posts to pacify leaders: CM Ashok Gehlot

Amid infighting in the Rajasthan Congress, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday said the party high command is strong and it will never offer any position to any leader or worker to pacify him. His remarks came ahead of a strategy meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the upcoming polls in the state. Kharge is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot on Monday here to bring them on one platform ahead of the assembly elections, which are due later this year. The meeting comes close on the heels of Pilot's "ultimatum" that if three demands he made from the state government were not met by the end of this month, he would launch a state-wide agitation. Pilot has asked for a high-level inquiry into the alleged scams that took place during the tenure of the former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje government, as one of his demands. Speaking to reporters, Gehlot said there is no such tradition in the party to offer posts to any leader i

Decision will be taken in party's interest: Cong Prez on Gehlot, Pilot

Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot have been engaged in a power tussle since 2020

Congress chief Kharge to meet Gehlot, Pilot separately in Delhi on Monday

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will hold separate meetings with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot on Monday in Delhi, a senior party leader familiar with the development said. The chief minister's office has also released Gehlot's programme confirming his visit to Delhi, where he will also lay foundation stone of the Rajasthan House. The proposed meeting comes close on the heels of Pilot's "ultimatum" that if three demands he made from the state government were not met by the end of this month, he would launch a state-wide agitation. Pilot has asked for a high-level inquiry into the alleged scams that took place during the tenure of the former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje government, as one of his demands. According to the senior leader, a meeting of the Congress top brass with all the state leaders was scheduled on May 26 but was later postponed. He said that now the high command will meet Gehlot and Pilot separately to bring them on on

Congress will 'compel' Centre to implement old pension scheme: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said the Congress will "compel" the Centre to implement the old pension scheme (OPS) in the entire country, asserting that the committee on the new pension scheme (NPS) was constituted under pressure mounted by his party. Gehlot also announced to increase old age pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 if the Congress government retains power in Rajasthan. Under the chairmanship of finance secretary, the Centre has formed a committee to find out a way forward for what can be done after combining OPS and NPS. They formed the committee after we mounted pressure, he said. The chief minister was addressing a 'Kisan Mahasammelan' in Maulasar of Nagaur district on the sidelines of inflation relief camp review. On April 6, the Union Finance Ministry set up a committee under Finance Secretary T V Somanathan to review the pension system for government employees. The committee would suggest whether in the light of the existing framework and structure

Kerala, Rajasthan CMs to not attend PM Modi's NITI Aayog meeting today

Other than him, Delhi's CM Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab's CM Bhagwant Mann, Telangana's CM KCR, West Bengal's CM Mamata Banerjee and Bihar's CM Nitish Kumar are expected to skip the meeting

Mass marriages strengthen feeling of social harmony: Rajasthan CM Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said organising mass marriages strengthens the feeling of social harmony. A mass marriage of 2,222 couples, including 2,111 from the Hindu community and 111 from the Muslim community, was organised by Shri Mahavir Gaushala Kalyan Sansthan on Friday in Baran district. Gehlot said the state government is encouraging mass marriages through its many programmes and policies. Schemes like Chief Minister Group Marriage Grant Scheme, Chief Minister Kanyadan Scheme and Chief Minister Inter-caste Marriage Promotion Scheme are being run in the state, he added. On the occasion, Gehlot also inspected an inflation relief camp in Baran. He handed over Chief Minister's Guarantee Cards of various schemes to the beneficiaries. Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi said organising mass marriages was an important social work.

Compensation demand in paper leak reflects intellectual bankruptcy: Gehlot

In a veiled attack on his former deputy Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said his demand for compensation to candidates affected by an exam paper leak reflects "intellectual bankruptcy". Gehlot also said the opposition has started talking about the paper leak as it does not have any issue to target the Congress government in Rajasthan. "Since the opposition does not have any issue, it has started talking about the paper leak and is saying give compensation to them (the candidates). Give compensation to the 26 lakh people who took the exam? The papers got leaked, so they should get compensation?" the chief minister asked during in his address after inaugurating a newly-constructed state-of-the-art bus terminal at the Jaipur Central Bus Stand, Sindhi Camp in the evening. "Such a demand is made that the papers got leaked, so they (candidates) should get compensation. What would you call this? Would this not be called intellectual bankruptcy?" he asked the

Sachin Pilot has not given any ultimatum to party: Congress MLA Chaudhary

His statement comes referring to Pilot's ultimatum to his own party's government in Rajasthan to probe the alleged paper leak scam

Rs 2,313 cr given to cow shelters in Rajasthan in last 4 years: CM Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday said over Rs 2,313 crore were given to cow shelters for holistic development of farmers and cattle rearers during his tenure. Inaugurating the Farmers Training Center in Udaipur, Gehlot said the cattle rearers are being given a subsidy of Rs 5 per litre of milk. So far a subsidy of Rs 1,110 crore has been given. The chief minister claimed that the previous government had given only Rs 150 crore to cow shelters in five years. He said that under the Chief Minister Kamdhenu Pashu Bima Yojana, two milch animals of the cattle rearers are getting insurance of Rs 40,000 each. Along with this, 5,000 dairy booths are being opened, which will generate employment. Nandishalas are being opened in every panchayat samiti, he said. "This has strengthened their socio-economic status. Cow shelters are now being given subsidies for nine months. Under the Mukhyamantri Bal Gopal Yojana, milk will now be given to children in schools for six days," Gehlot