Senior BJP leader Rajendra Rathore, who is the former Leader of Opposition, also condemned Gandhi’s remarks, asserting that the country’s kings and maharajas never compromised their self-respect or the nation’s sovereignty before foreign powers.”If there’s any comparison to be made with the East India Company, it’s with the Congress,” Rathore said, intensifying the criticism.BJP state in-charge Radha Mohan Agarwal expressed his surprise, labelling Gandhi’s remarks as “light, cheap, and foolish.” He added, “If this were a historical fact, it might have been accepted, but history has recorded the opposite. The whole country recognises the Rajput community’s contributions with open hearts.”The relationship between the Congress party and India’s former royal families has historically been strained. During former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure, the abolition of the Privy Purse, which were allowances granted to former royals, was strongly opposed by the royal families, particularly in Rajasthan.The strained ties between former MP Gayatri Devi of the Jaipur royal family and Indira Gandhi are well documented. Rajasthan folklore still recounts stories of the government taking control of Jaigarh Fort’s treasures during Indira Gandhi’s emergency era.With by-elections approaching, it remains to be seen how Gandhi’s recent remarks will affect political dynamics in Rajasthan, particularly in light of the crucial by-polls to seven seats of the Rajasthan Assembly scheduled for November 13.
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