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Red Diary Incriminating Ashok Gehlot? Sacked Minister Rajendra Gudha Claims That He Saved Rajasthan CM
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Left), and the sacked Minister Rajendra Gudha (right). (Pic: The New Indian Express)
Former minister and Congress MLA Rajendra Gudha made a significant claim on Sunday (23 July) while expressing discontent as he was removed from his position without being given an opportunity to explain himself..
Gudha said that he had rescued Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot from potential trouble. He asserted that without his intervention, the chief minister could have faced imprisonment.
He disclosed that during a raid conducted by the ED and Income Tax Department against Congress leader Dharmendra Rathore, he obtained a crucial "red diary" on the instructions of the chief minister.
Although Gudha did not elaborate on the contents of the diary, he shared that the chief minister urgently asked him to retrieve it at any cost.
According to Gudha, the chief minister repeatedly inquired if he had destroyed the diary, suggesting that the CM wouldn't have taken such actions if there were no incriminating information inside.
The BJP quickly seized upon Gudha's statement to criticize the ruling Congress party in the state. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla tweeted about the alleged "black deeds" of the Congress-Gehlot government, calling for accountability regarding corruption and women-related offenses.
Gudha, who held several ministerial portfolios, had been vocal in his criticism of Gehlot's government since his dismissal on Friday, following his aggressive stance against the government in the Assembly regarding crimes against women in the state.
Despite his removal, Gudha clarified that he would have willingly resigned if the chief minister had requested it and emphasized that even judges provide a chance for explanation before taking action.
Gudha and five other MLAs had won the 2018 assembly election on a BSP ticket before joining the Congress in September 2019. He was appointed as a minister in November 2021 and had previously supported Gehlot during a confrontation with his then-deputy Sachin Pilot in July 2020. However, in recent months, Gudha has expressed support for Sachin Pilot, indicating a shift in his allegiance.
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