Rajasthan Congress stages statewide protests over minister’s remark on Indira Gandhi, demands revocation of suspensions

JAIPUR: The Congress party staged widespread protests across Rajasthan on Saturday, condemning cabinet minister Avinash Gehlot’s remark on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the state assembly.
The demonstrations also opposed the suspension of Congress State President Govind Singh Dotasra and five other MLAs who protested the minister’s comments during the assembly session on Friday.
In Jaipur, Congress workers gathered at Sanjay Circle, waving flags, holding banners, and raising slogans against the Bhajan Lal Sharma govt. Similar protests erupted in major cities, including Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, and Ajmer, with party workers marching through the streets, demanding an apology from Gehlot and the immediate reinstatement of the suspended legislators.
Congress state spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi accused the BJP govt of suppressing dissent instead of addressing concerns. “Instead of taking action against Minister Avinash Gehlot for his disrespectful comment about Indira Gandhi, the govt suspended our MLAs who were rightfully demanding an apology. This is a direct attack on democratic values,” said Chaturvedi.
In Ajmer, Congress leaders and supporters marched to the Collectorate, where they burned an effigy of Minister Gehlot. District Congress spokesperson Muzaffar Bharti condemned the BJP govt’s handling of the issue, stating, “Indira Gandhi was a Bharat Ratna awardee and a leader who sacrificed her life for the nation. Any insult to her legacy is an insult to every Indian who believes in democracy. Minister Gehlot must apologise.”
Tensions escalated in Sikar, where police resorted to a mild lathi charge as Congress workers attempted to enter the district collector’s office. In Udaipur, protestors threatened to resume demonstrations on Monday if the govt failed to revoke the suspensions.
Pankaj Sharma, a Congress leader from Udaipur, criticised the BJP for avoiding accountability. “Our MLAs raised a valid objection in the Assembly, and instead of addressing it, they were suspended. If this is how the govt treats the opposition, how can we expect them to uphold democratic principles?” he said.
During the protest in Chittorgarh, Congress leader Surendra Singh Jadawat urged party workers to gear up for a march to Jaipur, emphasizing that the fight for justice for their suspended MLAs must continue. The Congress party announced that if their demands are not met, they will escalate their protests across the state in the coming days