Congress will return to power; 'magic' will work: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on November 22 said the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case in Udaipur were “linked” to the BJP and should have been “hanged by now” but the investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was not progressing as it should.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on November 22 said the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case in Udaipur were "linked" to the BJP and should have been "hanged by now" but the investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was not progressing as it should.

In an interview with PTI ahead of the November 25 State Assembly elections, the senior Congress leader also spoke about the party's prospects in the State, the "red diary" issue and poll guarantees.

Mr. Gehlot termed the ‘red diary’ issue raked up by the BJP in the poll campaign as “nonsense”, and said if there was any substance in their allegations, the diary should be handed over to the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department or the Central Bureau of Investigation.

A sacked Minister had alleged that the red diary contains details of alleged financial irregularities committed by the Gehlot government.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly attacking him in his election rallies and calling him a "magician", Mr. Gehlot said, “The magic will work. He says [Congress] will be 'choo mantar' (disappear) but (we) will tell who will be 'choo mantar'.” Mr. Gehlot used to accompany his magician father to magic shows in his childhood.

Hitting back at the BJP for trying to make the Kanhaiya Lal murder case a poll issue, he claimed the accused had links with the BJP and the investigation, which is being done by the NIA, was delayed in view of polls. “The accused should have been hanged by now,” he said.

“I think [investigation] was delayed because elections were coming, and they [BJP] will keep talking about it. That is why NIA is not progressing the way it should have, this is my doubt,” he said.