Shekhawat Challenges Gehlot: ‘Recall 2018‑23 Before You Criticise Us’

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat didn’t hold back on Sunday. Speaking at the ‘Super Excellency Award’ ceremony in Rajasthan, he likened Ashok Gehlot to a teacher who eats jaggery yet tells pupils to avoid it – a colourful way of saying, “look at your own habits first”.

Shekhawat urged the senior opposition leader to pause, rewind and actually recall how the state fared between 2018 and 2023. “Before you keep on pointing fingers at the centre, ask yourself about law‑and‑order, administration and governance during your own tenure,” he said, adding that Gehlot’s party may not have handed him a big portfolio, but his role as a senior opposition figure still demands some self‑reflection.

Not stopping there, Shekhawat turned his attention to Rahul Gandhi, branding the Congress leader’s recent remarks as “irresponsible” – a label he claims isn’t new. He reminded listeners that Gandhi has a habit of making such statements both inside and outside Parliament, and warned that invoking any breach of privilege or constitutional process while making careless comments is hardly appropriate.

These comments come in the wake of a parliamentary notice filed by BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur, accusing Gandhi of using unparliamentary language during a Lok Sabha session on July 29. The notice, filed under Rules 222 and 223, alleges that Gandhi ignored the Speaker’s warning and persisted with the offending remarks.

Switching gears, Shekhawat highlighted a different kind of battle – the fight against drug abuse among India’s youth. He announced a 100‑week national campaign titled “Drug‑Free Youth for a Developed India” (Nashamukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat), launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance.

According to the minister, around 14,000 programmes have already been organised across the country, with nearly 20 million young people pledging to stay drug‑free. He explained that each volunteer is expected to inspire at least five peers, turning Sundays into awareness days on campuses, colleges and workplaces for the next two years.

Shekhawat expressed confidence that a joint effort by government bodies, educational institutions, religious and social organisations, and the youth themselves will create a truly drug‑free environment – a key milestone on the road to a “Viksit Bharat”.

While the story stems from a syndicated feed, the remarks paint a vivid picture of the current political sparring in Rajasthan and the broader national agenda on youth welfare.