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4:35 PM

Always knew Sachin Pilot as 'worthless' person, but kept quite in party's interest: Rajasthan CM Gehlot

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday described his former deputy Sachin Pilot as a worthless' person, doing nothing, but said he raised no question over it in the party's interest. In his statement, he, however, did not name him. He said no demand was raised to change the PCC president, a post which Pilot held for the last seven years in Rajasthan.

 

Gehlot said he "used to talk about conspiracy to topple his government but nobody believed that he (Pilot), having an innocent face, good command over English and Hindi and influence over the media across the country, can do this.

 

Rajasthan is the only state where no demand was raised to change the PCC president in seven years. We knew that nothing is happening here. We knew he is nikamma (worthless) and nakara (idle), still we did not question this in the interest of the party, Gehlot told reporters.

4:32 PM

If you won't comply with our orders, we will strictly take action against you: SC bench to Vodafone Idea lawyer Mukul Rohatgi

4:30 PM

Rajasthan CM Gehlot accuses Sachin Pilot of conspiring with BJP

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday termed his former deputy Sachin Pilot as "nikamma" (useless) and "nakara" (incompetent) and accused him of conspiring with the BJP for the past six months to topple the government in the state.

"Pichle saat salon me koi bhi aisa nahi milega jisne maang ki ho ki Pilot sahab ko hatana chahie Pradesh Congress Committee adhyaksh se. Hume pata tha vo Nikamma hai, Nakara hai. Kuch kaam nahi kar raha hai. Khali logon ko ladwa raha hai (In the past seven years, you won't find anyone in the party who demanded the removal of Pilot as PCC president even though we knew he was useless, good for nothing and that he wasn't doing anything except making people fight among themselves)," Gehlot told reporters.

The Chief Minister said Sachin Pilot has a 'masoom' (innocent) face and has a strong command on Hindi and English language, with which he had impressed the media across the country. "The people of the state know his contribution. However, we never questioned him in the interest of the party," he said.

Gehlot further added, "He was conspiring for the past six months with BJP's support. Nobody believed me when I used to say that conspiracy is going on to topple the government. Nobody knew that a person with such an innocent face will do such a thing."

4:17 PM

Congress MLA in Rajasthan alleges Sachin Pilot offered him money to join BJP

Congress MLA from Rajasthan Giriraj Singh Malinga alleged on Monday that rebel party leader Sachin Pilot had offered him money to join the BJP. He said talks were held at Pilot's residence and subsequently, he had alerted Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot about the conspiracy to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan, according to a PTI report.

 

"I had a talk with Sachinji. He offered me money to join the BJP, but I refused saying I will not join the saffron party," Malinga told reporters. He said he would not join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) even after resigning as an MLA. "How will I face the people of my area? What will I tell them?" he asked.

 

The former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA from Badi, along with five other legislators of the Mayawati-led party, was inducted into the Congress in September last year. The lawmakers had handed over affidavits to state Assembly Speaker CP Joshi to merge the legislative party with the Congress.

4:13 PM

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informs SC that Videocon, Aircel under IBC, and Reliance Jio paid AGR full dues: LIVE LAW

4:06 PM

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot fires fresh salvo at Sachin Pilot, says he played dirty game

Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday fired a fresh salvo at his political rival Sachin Pilot alleging that he played a very dirty game and conspired to topple his own government. After terming him 'Nikamma' (useless) and 'Nakara' (purposeless), he ended his speech saying Satyamev Jayate.

 

This was the second time in the last one week when Gehlot opened all fronts against Pilot who was recently sacked as deputy chief minister and PCC chief.

 

Speaking to the media, Gehlot said, "There was no lack of respect for Pilot in the party, but he played a very dirty game and conspired to please the BJP."

 

Gehlot also questioned his lawyers' expense and said, "Harish Salve is fighting his case, where is so much money coming from? It's anarchy being reported inside the country. Amid all these, Pilot's face and character has been exposed. Our MLAs are held hostage in Gurgaon (Gurugram)," he added.

 

Gehlot said, "We knew he was good for nothing (Hum jaante they ye nikamma hai, nakara hai, koi kaam nahi kar raha hai, khali logon ko ladwa raha hai. Main yahan koi baingan bechne nahi aaya hun, main koi sabzi bechne nahi aaya hun (I knew he was good for nothing, had no better work than instigating people to fight. I have not come here to sell vegetables.)

 

The Chief Minister said that some MLAs from the Pilot camp are now saying that their mobile phones have been forcefully taken away and that they want to return to the party fold.

 

"You might have never heard in history that a party's state head is busy toppling his own government," he said before ending his address saying 'Satyamev Jayate'.

4:03 PM

Bharti Airtel contends that AGR dues owed by Airtel are far less than claimed by DoT, says Senior Advocate Sighvi: Bar & Bench

3:54 PM

Bharti Airtel paid Rs 180 billion after court order on telecom dues, says Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Sighvi: Bar & Bench

3:52 PM

Sensex surges 398.85 points to close at 37,418.99; Nifty climbs 120.50 points to 11,022.20

3:47 PM

Sachin Pilot isn't doing any work, he's only instigating fights between people: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

3:42 PM

LIVE: Supreme Court hearing the matter pertaining to AGR to be payed by telecom companies

3:41 PM

PM Modi is protecting his fabricated strongman image, not India: Rahul Gandhi

Reiterating that China has still occupied India's territory, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he has fabricated a fake strongman image to come to power which has now become India's biggest weakness as he has to protect the idea of 'Chhapan Inch'.

 

Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader posted a video message and wrote, "PM fabricated a fake strongman image to come to power. It was his biggest strength. It is now India's biggest weakness."

 

In the video message, speaking on "China's Strategic Game Plan" the Congress leader said: "What is China's strategic and tactical game plan? It is simply not a border issue. The worry I have is that the Chinese are sitting in our territory today. Chinese don't do anything without thinking about it strategically." READ MORE...

3:37 PM

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for Hughes Communications: Ready to Pay AGR dues. LIVE LAW

3:34 PM

Shekhawat questions audio tapes' authenticity after Rajasthan Police seeks his voice sample

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday questioned the authenticity of the audio clips, cited by the Congress to allege his involvement in a purported bid to topple the Rajasthan government, and sought to know its source and how the state police got it, according to a PTI report. The Rajasthan Police SOG (special operations group), which is probing the case, had earlier sent a notice to Shekhawat, asking him to give his voice sample and record his statement.

 

Shekhawat said, "They (police) should first clarify about authenticity of these tapes. Who recorded it and where did the SOG get it from. Investigation should be carried out to find out if these tapes are genuine or not."

 

His remarks indicated that he is unlikely to join the probe amid a raging political controversy over the audio clips. The Congress has alleged that the BJP leader's voice figure in them, a charge refuted by him.

 

The BJP has called these clips "manufactured" and demanded a CBI probe, questioning if the state police tapped phones of politicians in violation of rules.

3:27 PM

Rajasthan Cong MLAs sing 'Hum Honge Kamyaab' in Jaipur hotel amid political crisis

Congress MLAs along with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were heard singing "Hum Honge Kamyaab" at a hotel in Jaipur late last night in an apparent indication of solidarity amid the political crisis in the state, ANI reported.

 

The Congress MLAs in favour of the state government led by Gehlot have been lodged at Hotel Fairmont amid the political turmoil in Rajasthan. In a video, the Congress MLAs backing CM Gehlot were seen sitting in a circle, clapping and singing the song.

 

A day after enjoying antakshari and actor Aamir Khan's blockbuster movie 'Lagaan', Congress MLAs of Gehlot's camp were spotted watching the cult classic hit 'Sholay'. The MLAs were also seen attending cooking classes, playing 'antakshari' and watching Mughal-e-Azam.

 

Meanwhile, BJP leader Sambit Patra took a jibe at Congress, stating that these MLAs are neglecting the people of their constituencies as they are busy watching movies and learning how to make 'pizza, pasta'. While the Congress has 107 MLAs, including 19 who have been issued notices of disqualification by the assembly speaker on a complaint by chief whip Mahesh Joshi, the BJP has 72 lawmakers in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly.