Ashok Gehlot says ‘speech removed’ from Modi event, PMO replies: ‘your presence will be deeply value

Jaipur, July 27, 2023.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sikar in Rajasthan, where he is scheduled to release the 14th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme at a public event Thursday, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of removing his “pre-scheduled 3-minute address” from the programme.

PMO responded soon after and said the Rajasthan CM was “duly invited” and his speech “was also slotted”, but his office had said he won’t be able to join.

Gehlot again hit back, saying that the PMO was not “made aware of facts”. He stated that his office had informed the Centre that owing to his leg injury he will be attending the event through video conferencing. “My address was kept in the proposed minute to minute programme sent from the Ministry of Health, Government of India. Last night, I was again informed that I would not be addressing,” Gehlot added.