Jaipur, June 8 (IANS) The war of words between Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot intensified on Monday, with Shekhawat hitting back sharply after Gehlot questioned the stability of his ministerial position and described him as a “fearful man”.

In a strongly worded post on X, Shekhawat accused Gehlot of political insecurity, alleging that the Congress veteran was increasingly troubled by fears of irrelevance. “I am a devoted follower of the revered tradition of Veer Durgadas Rathore ji, Gehlot ji. Fear does not run in my blood,” he wrote, directly tagging Gehlot.

Turning the charge around, Shekhawat said it was Gehlot who was driven by insecurity. “On the contrary, it is the fear of your own irrelevance that constantly troubles you. That is why you continue speaking against me relentlessly. The truth is that if I were not around, your politics would have ended altogether,” he said.

The Union Minister also took a swipe at Gehlot’s long political career, alleging that it revolved around power and positions. “I am not a servant of any one family like you are. Your entire political life stands as proof of your obsession with posts and clinging to power. Therefore, I certainly do not need any certificate from you,” he added.

Contrasting his approach with that of the former Chief Minister, Shekhawat said, “You may continue with your politics of diversion and distraction. I remain committed to my pledge of public service. As for the rest, time itself will provide answers to everyone.”

The response came a day after Gehlot, speaking to the media in Jaipur, described Shekhawat as a “ghabraya hua aadmi” (a worried man) and suggested that the Union Minister was uncertain about his continuation in the Union Cabinet. “He should focus on saving his ministerial position. Otherwise, he may be relieved of it at any time,” Gehlot had said.

Gehlot also revived allegations related to the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam, claiming that Shekhawat had failed to secure relief from the courts in matters linked to the case. He said his government had spent nearly 22 months investigating the issue and prepared a detailed technical report, while alleging that the change in government influenced subsequent developments.

Referring to the probe, Gehlot said that despite the seriousness of the allegations, the previous Congress government had proceeded cautiously and did not order any arrest during its tenure.

The latest exchange marks another chapter in the long-running political rivalry between the two leaders, who have frequently targeted each other over governance issues, corruption allegations, and the Sanjivani scam investigation.

–IANS

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