The second phase of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s ‘Gaurav Yatra’ met with protesters showing black flags, shouting slogans and pelting stones during her rally on Saturday.
During a public meeting at Osian town near Jodhpur, independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal’s supporters showed black flags to Raje. Outside the town, people from the Rajput community tore down Raje’s posters and blocked the roads, reported The Hindu.
Raje’s Gaurav Yatra saw protests in Jodhpur’s Pipar town as well. People here showed black flags and threw stones during the rally. Furthermore, during Raje’s speech, protesters raised slogans, following which Raje ended her speech abruptly and cancelled any further events.
Raje has now suspended the Yatra for three days and also decided to skip Luni, Sardarpura, Soorsagar and Jodhpur assembly constituencies from her itinerary.
Raje blamed the Congress party for the protests. Raje said, “I will not be cowed down by such acts. The people will teach a lesson to those who have not done anything for development of Rajasthan. The BJP will certainly return to power.”
However, Gehlot denied the accusation and said, “Ms. Raje gets disturbed at the sight of black flags, which are a part of public life. Her Gaurav Yatra this time will turn out to be her ‘Vidai Yatra’ (farewell march).”
The “Gaurav Yatra”, a BJP campaign event ahead of the assembly elections in the state, has been mired in controversy from the beginning. A PIL filed in the Rajasthan High Court, alleging misuse of public money and government machinery in the yatra, cast a dark shadow over its first phase.