R’sthan Guv bats for PM, video goes viral

Yash Goyal

Jaipur, March 25 

Rajasthan Governor Kalayan Singh, addressing party workers outside his residence in Aligarh on March 23, reportedly urged them to ensure Narendra Modi was re-elected and made PM again as “the nation and society need him”. With a video in this regard going viral, the state Congresson Monday cried foul. However, Raj Bhawan denied any such statement by the Governor.

In the video, he is purportedly heard saying: “We are workers of the BJP. We definitely want the BJP to win. Each one of us wants Modiji should become PM once more. It is necessary for the country and society that Modiji becomes PM.” 

Taking exception, Rajasthan Congress vice-president Dr Archna Sharma said the Governor, who occupied a Constitutional post, must refrain from making political statements and the EC should take “suo moto cognisance of the poll code violation.”

Raj Bhawan spokesperson denied any such statement was made by the Governor while in Aligarh for Holi from March 19-24. Sources said while in Aligarh, the Governor met party workers  Some of them protested against Satish Guatam’s candidature. “A fake video clip may have been released by a BJP faction to tarnish his image,” said another source. 

Referring to the controversy, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot tweeted: “The post of Governor is a Constitutional post and in democracy, it is expected of Governors to be non-partisan and maintain a distance from party politics. It is unfortunate that Sh Kalyan Singh has made statements which do not suit the dignity of the post he is holding”.