Cong accuses BJP of sponsoring Jat rally in support of Natwar

Jaipur, Aug 19 (UNI) Sensing the alienation of Jats from the Congress following the Natwar Singh episode, the party is desperate to woo back the Jats into their fold, training their guns on the BJP this time round.

Rajasthan Congress state vice-president and former power minister Dr Chandrabhan today accused the BJP of sponsoring the Jat 'Swabhiman rally' here on Aug 23 in support of beleaguered former external affairs minister, who has been indicted in the Justice RS Pathak Inquiry Authority report in the Iraq oil-for food scam.

In Rajasthan, Jats have been traditionally Congress supporters but Jat Mahasabha has threatened to boycott the party in view of suspension of Natwar Singh and his son Jagat Singh.

In a press statement, Dr Chandrabhan said that the main organiser of the Jat rally is Kisan Sangharsh Samiti which does not have any political entity or base in the state. Moreover, Mr Natwar Singh does not have any mass following in the state.

So arranging such a big rally here and making its successful at the same time would not be possible without the tacit support of the ruling BJP, he added.

He has accused Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her Cabinet colleagues of providing all possible help for the success of the rally in the state capital, even deputing four ministers including state sports minister Yunus Khan to see that the rally gets a sizable crowd.

He said the rally is actually a pre-planned strategy of Mrs Raje to divide the Jats and farmers of the state who are extremely unhappy with the government's performance in the last three years.

Dr Chandrabhan said Mr Natwar Singh is being used as a scapegoat by the BJP and being put forward by the party in the Jaipur rally.

He said BJP knows very well that they have lost the support of the Jats and farmers, who would spoil their chances of winning in the next elections.

He called upon the Jats, especially Jat farmers not to play into the hands of BJP and refrain from attending the rally.

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