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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi understandably to explain his position following the embarrassing revelations made by party MLA Malkhan Singh’s sister Indira Bishnoi that he was aware of kidnapped auxiliary nurse Bhanwari Devi’s controversial CD and had even advised her to settle the matter directly with then water resources Minister Mahipal Maderna.
The Congress leadership is said to be very unhappy with the Chief Minister who has courted repeated controversies recently — first related to the Bharatpur riots and now Bhanwari Devi case. Gehlot’s position has become increasingly shaky and speculations are also rife about his fate as the CM.
However, putting up a brave face, Gehlot, who has met Sonia twice during the week, denied any knowledge of the CDs. He issued a clarification arguing that as CM he meets a large number of people daily and could not be expected to specifically remember Bhanwari. He claimed to have briefed Sonia about the political situation in the State and the development work being carried out by his government. Gehlot also met the AICC general secretary in-charge for the State Mukul Wasnik.
Asked the whether the party is thinking about removing Gehlot as the Chief Minister, a senior leader said it does not appear to be imminent in the near future. However, the party high command has taken a serious view of the entire matter and wants him to effect some changes in his Cabinet to refurbish the image of the State Government.
Another leader said that even in Bharatpur riot case though initially the blame was put on the Home Minister, it has now come to light that the Chief Minister was on the wrong footing as he had earlier rejected the suggestion of changing the SP. Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, who visited the riot affected area, is said to be cut up with Gehlot.
Meanwhile, Bishnoi, who was again interrogated by the CBI, said that about two years ago, Bhanwari had told her that she had met Gehlot when she was harassed by Maderna's henchmen. Bishnoi tried to clear herself by saying she was not in touch with the nurse, her brother or cousin Sohanlal (also involved in the case) but admitted that the audio tapes of her conversation with Bhanwari were genuine.
Bishnoi also alleged that the CBI was merely trying to bail out Maderna and others by harassing those who had no links to the case. On Tuesday, Bhanwari's husband Amarchand also criticised the CBI's investigation saying the agency was spending more time tracing the CDs than his wife, who was kidnapped on September 1.
The CBI, which is presuming that the nurse has been murdered, has meanwhile seized a camcorder and a computer which may be holding vital clues about the mysterious disappearance of Bhanwari. It has sought help of Central Forensic Science Laboratory and private experts to retrieve the data which has been erased. Officials suspect that the camera and computer might have been used to film and store some controversial footage which could hold vital clues about the reasons behind her disappearance.
The Congress leadership is said to be very unhappy with the Chief Minister who has courted repeated controversies recently — first related to the Bharatpur riots and now Bhanwari Devi case. Gehlot’s position has become increasingly shaky and speculations are also rife about his fate as the CM.
However, putting up a brave face, Gehlot, who has met Sonia twice during the week, denied any knowledge of the CDs. He issued a clarification arguing that as CM he meets a large number of people daily and could not be expected to specifically remember Bhanwari. He claimed to have briefed Sonia about the political situation in the State and the development work being carried out by his government. Gehlot also met the AICC general secretary in-charge for the State Mukul Wasnik.
Asked the whether the party is thinking about removing Gehlot as the Chief Minister, a senior leader said it does not appear to be imminent in the near future. However, the party high command has taken a serious view of the entire matter and wants him to effect some changes in his Cabinet to refurbish the image of the State Government.
Another leader said that even in Bharatpur riot case though initially the blame was put on the Home Minister, it has now come to light that the Chief Minister was on the wrong footing as he had earlier rejected the suggestion of changing the SP. Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, who visited the riot affected area, is said to be cut up with Gehlot.
Meanwhile, Bishnoi, who was again interrogated by the CBI, said that about two years ago, Bhanwari had told her that she had met Gehlot when she was harassed by Maderna's henchmen. Bishnoi tried to clear herself by saying she was not in touch with the nurse, her brother or cousin Sohanlal (also involved in the case) but admitted that the audio tapes of her conversation with Bhanwari were genuine.
Bishnoi also alleged that the CBI was merely trying to bail out Maderna and others by harassing those who had no links to the case. On Tuesday, Bhanwari's husband Amarchand also criticised the CBI's investigation saying the agency was spending more time tracing the CDs than his wife, who was kidnapped on September 1.
The CBI, which is presuming that the nurse has been murdered, has meanwhile seized a camcorder and a computer which may be holding vital clues about the mysterious disappearance of Bhanwari. It has sought help of Central Forensic Science Laboratory and private experts to retrieve the data which has been erased. Officials suspect that the camera and computer might have been used to film and store some controversial footage which could hold vital clues about the reasons behind her disappearance.
