Opportunists should have left the party earlier: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday took a jibe at former party colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia by calling him an "opportunist" and said that it would have been better if he had left the party earlier.

Speaking to reporters here, Gehlot said, "Had the opportunist gone earlier, it would have been better. The Congress gave him a lot in the last 17-18 years...he was given several posts and also made a Union minister. But he showed his opportunist streak by deserting the party. The people will not forgive him."

His remarks came soon after Scindia joined the BJP in New Delhi, a day after resigning from the Congress. Scindia also slammed the Congress saying that "the party is not the same as it originally was".

On Tuesday Gehlot accused Scindia of betraying the people of the state.

Accusing the BJP of indulging in horse-trading, the Chief Minister said, "What has happened in Madhya Pradesh, it is a murder of democracy. The entire nation is watching... how shamelessly horse-trading is being done. In which direction are they taking the nation? They will definitely be taught a lesson by the people when the time comes."

Gehlot said attempts were being made to threaten and intimidate with the worst kind of tactics being used. "Such brazen abuse of power has never been seen. The Congress party is united and we will together teach such leaders a lesson," he said.

He was referring to Madhya Pradesh, where at least 22 Congress MLAs close to Scindia have tendered their resignation to the Governor after Scindia left the grand old party.

Gehlot said that the attempts to destabilize elected governments stemmed from BJP's money power and horse-trading.

"They are not talking about any ideology. They want to grab power on the basis of huge amounts of money that they have hoarded," he said, adding the biggest scam that is happening in country was of electoral bonds.

"They have amassed huge amounts of money, people are being robbed by creating fear of CBI, ED and IT inquiries. Corruption is at its peak. On this money power, they are plotting to destabilize democratically elected governments," he alleged.

Gehlot said public is not going to be intimidated by threats. "People will never bow to these threats, nor are we going to bow. I am very much hopeful that such leaders will be taught a lesson," Gehlot added. IANS