Gehlot asks Raj politicians to keep family away from govt affairs

Jaipur: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Thursday advised politicians in the state to keep their family members, particularly their sons, away from govt affairs, warning that their involvement could lead to controversy and damage public trust.Speaking in Jaipur, Gehlot said that ministers, including the chief minister and the deputy chief ministers, should maintain a clear separation between governance and family. He stressed that the proximity of family members to power often results in misuse of influence and reputational harm to both individuals and the govt. "Keep your sons away from the govt. If you bring them close, you may not even realise when they begin to bring disrepute. The disgrace will be of the govt, the ministers, and the CM," Gehlot said, urging elected representatives to instead focus on imparting strong values at home. His remarks come amid allegations involving BJP MLA Hari Singh Rawat's son, Ranjit Singh, in Bhim town of Rajsamand district. According to vernacular media reports, three families' homes were allegedly bulldozed overnight, triggering a police investigation. Gehlot claimed that complaints against relatives of ministers have been steadily increasing since the formation of the current BJP govt. He further alleged that such issues often do not reach the CM, raising concerns about administrative oversight and internal communication within the govt. In a separate remark, Gehlot criticised External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar over his reported statement regarding Pakistan's role in mediating US-Iran tensions. Questioning the terminology used, Gehlot said describing Pakistan's role as "brokering" was inappropriate and called for clarification or an apology if it was a slip of the tongue. Referring to past conflicts such as the 1965 and 1971 wars and the Kargil conflict with the neighbouring country, Gehlot questioned Pakistan's credibility on the global stage. He added that at a time when global tensions remain high, all countries should focus on promoting peace rather than using ambiguous or potentially misleading language.