Modi government alarmed by huge turnout in `Bharat Jodo Yatra’, says Rajasthan CM Gehlot
The Hindu
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is writing letters to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Mr. Gehlot, which is aimed at “disturbing the yatra”
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Narendra Modi government at the Centre were so alarmed by the huge turnout in `Bharat Jodo Yatra’, that they were shooting off letters demanding adherence to the COVID protocol, in the march. The `yatra’, which observed its last day in Rajasthan on Tuesday, has entered Haryana.
The move by the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to write letters to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Mr. Gehlot, was aimed at “disturbing the yatra”, following the massive public support visible for it in the State, said Mr. Gehlot. He alleged that Mr. Mandaviya’s letters suggesting that the `yatra’ be suspended, were politically-motivated.
Talking to reporters in Dausa, Mr. Gehlot said the BJP was upset with the popularity of the long march led by Mr. Gandhi, and wanted to disturb it. “Two days ago, the Prime Minister addressed a rally in Tripura, where no COVID protocol was followed... The PM had massive rallies in West Bengal during the second wave of pandemic,” he said.
“If the Health Minister is really concerned [about COVID infection] and his intent is not political, then he should have written the first letter to the Prime Minister,” Mr. Gehlot said.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.