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No dissidence in BJP, says rebel Minister

JAIPUR: On the eve of its fourth anniversary, the Rajasthan Cabinet led by Vasundhara Raje presented a semblance of unity on Friday as one of the rebel Ministers, Ghanshyam Tiwari, ruled out existence of any “differences” between him and the Chief Minister.

In fact Mr. Tiwari, in the news for lately partaking a potion allegedly laced with opium at a family gathering of senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh in Barmer, even denied the existence of dissidents in the party here.

“If there had been any differences between us, do you think I would be sitting here before you?” asked Mr. Tiwari, who had invited journalists to a luncheon press conference to speak about the achievements of the Education Ministry he is heading.

“The Chief Minister is the final authority as far as the Cabinet is concerned and my powers as Cabinet Minister are intact,” he said refuting reports that his powers had been curtailed of late.

The Minister, who had kept away from the State executive meeting addressed by party leader L. K. Advani at Sanwaliji in Chittorgarh a month back, also denied the latest act of defiance attributed to him by the media—not allowing an investment to the tune of Rs.7,000 crore in the education sector during the recent investment summit, “Resurgent Rajasthan”.

“I did not stop any investment. The Education Department alone had an investment of Rs.15,000 crore at the summit.

Mr. Tiwari said he too was actively involved in mobilisation of people for the mega rally scheduled here for Saturday. He defended Ms. Raje keeping away from official work for about a fortnight recently pointing out that she was ill and had a severe back problem.

He had some kind words even for Mahesh Sharma, the party president. Mr. Tiwari termed the reports of taking the opiate at Mr. Singh’s ancestral residence in Jassol as “baseless”.

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