NEW DELHI: The Rajasthan government’s Red Diary of infamy has caused a massive stir in the state’s politics which allegedly mentions Sonia Gandhi’s brother within its pages as well.
According to excerpts from the diary, Sonia’s brother had attended the marriage programme of the owner of Hotel Shiv Vilas’ son. Incumbent Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had wanted to meet him and with regards to the diary’s excerpts, had asked for arrangements to be made for the meeting.
The diary, recovered from Congress leader Dharmendra Singh Rathore’s residence, according to sources, was also written by him. Rathore is also a member of the Gehlot Cabinet.
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“The OSD (Officer on Special Duty) to CM, Shashikant Sharma, was asked to arrange a meeting between Sonia Gandhi’s brother and the Rajasthan CM. Sonia Gandhi’s brother came to Jaipur for the marriage function,” the diary reads.
Barring Gandhi’s brother, the Red Diary also mentions All India Congress Committee secretary Zuber Khan, who had allegedly sought the Chairperson’s seat to the Mewat Vikas Board. The diary illustrates that Khan was working with Congress leader and Sonia’s daughter, Priyanka Gandhi, when her personal secretary was absent from work when she was in Rajasthan.
Zuber Khan, the AICC secretary, met with me. He wanted the position of Chairman of the Mewat Vikas Board. He is associated with Priyanka Gandhi in UP. Sandeep Singh, Priyanka Gandhi’s personal secretary, is missing from Rajasthan,” the diary, allegedly written by Rathore, notes.
Former minister and Congress MLA Rajendra Gudha had claimed that he had secured the diary from Rathore’s residence during an Income Tax department raid in July 2020 on Gehlot’s direction. However, the incumbent CM has called the claims ‘a bunch of lies’.
Gudha had been dismissed by the Congress high command, allegedly for putting forth the issue of violence against women in the Rajasthan legislative assembly. Presently, he has joined hands with the Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde wing.