Ex-Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot refutes allegations by Vasundhara Raje regarding financial mismanagement by Congress in Rajasthan

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday defended the financial management of his government saying it was remarkable. "Be it the Planning or Finance Commissions, RBI or the Prime Minister, everyone had appreciated financial management of our Congress government in Rajasthan. Facts and figures prove that we had revenue surplus budget thrice," he told reporters at Youth Congress office in Jaipur.

He was reacting to his successor Vasundhara Raje's allegation of financial mismanagement by the Congress government. Regarding the issue of Sanwar Lal Jat in the Assembly, he said the party has nothing personal against Jat, but asked that when Jat had resigned as MLA, taken oath of MP, then why was the state government continuing with him as a minister.

The Opposition Congress had opposed the presence of ex-MLA Sanwar Lal Jat in the Assembly claiming that he was not constitutionally a minister now. However, the Speaker, in his ruling, said that the fact that he is still a cabinet minister in Rajasthan cannot be challenged.

Gehlot also accused the Raje government of neglecting cattle, saying the cattle in the state was starving due to negligence of the government and demanded that the government make proper arrangements for fodder and also provide grants to gau-shalas (cattle shelters).