Jodhpur: Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma Tuesday made serious allegations against his predecessor Ashok Gehlot, accusing him of being a “looter” who exploited farmers through dubious business practices before entering the political arena.Sharma claimed that Gehlot profited hugely from the sale of spurious fertilisers and seeds, saying, “You had a fertilizer and seed shop. You used to exploit farmers then, yet today you talk about farmers. A raid was conducted at your godown; farmers still have bills showing how expensive the fertilizers and seeds you sold were.”Sharma made the charges while speaking during the ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) march in Jodhpur.The CM accused Gehlot of fostering dynastic politics, corruption and appeasement tactics. “I am the son of a farmer, while you are the son of a magician,” Sharma said in a veiled attack on Gehlot’s background.In response, the former CM took to X later in the evening, challenging Sharma to back up his allegations with evidence or tender a public apology within 24 hours.“The CM made unwarranted remarks without any factual basis, which have pained me. He has personally levelled completely false allegations against me and propagated a wholly fabricated story,” Gehlot wrote.The ex-CM went on to demand a full account of Sharma’s claims.“I hope he will provide me with a detailed account, supported by facts and documentary evidence, and place it before the people of Rajasthan as well; otherwise, he should apologise within 24 hours,” Gehlot added.During his speech earlier in the day, CM Sharma made it clear that he was prepared to respond to any rebuttal on the charges he made and promised a vigorous defence against any counterclaims made by Gehlot.“Whatever you say (in response), I will give you a complete reply and leave no stone unturned,” Sharma asserted.In his address, Sharma also questioned Gehlot’s commitment to his constituency, alleging that despite repeated elections, he had prioritised the welfare of his family over that of the public.The CM also revived accusations of corruption during Gehlot’s tenure, citing allegedly suspicious appointments in Rajasthan Public Service Commission and referencing the Jal Jeevan Mission scam, which saw former ministers and officials jailed.Responding to the CM’s allegations before TOI, Jodhpur city Congress president Omkar Verma said, “Gehlot did have a fertiliser and seeds shop in Pipar City in the mid 1970s that he later shut down to enter electoral politics, but no raid was ever conducted on his shop.”“There were raids, however, on Gehlot’s brother’s shop in 2020 and 2022 by ED and CBI, respectively. Dragging matters relating to Gehlot’s family members in his speech today was unbecoming of a CM,” he added.Quotes:CM Bhajan Lal Sharma: “You (Gehlot) had a fertilizer and seed shop. You used to exploit farmers then, yet today you talk about farmers. A raid was conducted at your godown; farmers still have bills showing how expensive the fertilizers and seeds you sold were.”Ex-CM Ashok Gehlot: “I hope he (Sharma) will provide me with a detailed account (of the charges), supported by facts and documentary evidence, and place it before the people of Rajasthan as well; otherwise, he should apologise within 24 hours.”
