Raje reacts angrily to photo kiss row

Jaipur: An angry Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Saturday attacked the Congress for raking up the issue of her photograph with Biocon India chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as an attempt to sensationalise politics on non-issues.

She was also critical of the media saying people cannot stomach the success of women and accused them of indulging in such "trivial issues".

Raje said instead of highlighting the good work her government has done in the state, such non-issues were being raked up for creating unnecessary sensation.

Reacting to the criticism of her walks on the fashion ramp, Raje denied she had made any catwalk as alleged by her detractors and said she only unveiled a logo on one occasion which was done for promoting weavers of the state.

Regarding allotment of land to the Deen Dayal Trust in the city, of which she is the chairman, Raje said the trust had not yet got the 'patta' and people were making an unnecessary noise about it.

Referring to allotment of land in the name of "Magic Land" in memory of magician, Laxman Gehlot, father of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot during his tenure, Raje asked why the Congress did not make any noise at that time.

Asked if the controversy would impact the Dungarpur by-election on Monday, Raje said "no, we will sweep the poll and wrest the seat from the Congress".

State BJP president Mahesh Sharma referred to the "hug" accorded by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to his Pakistan counterpart Benazir Bhutto when she visited India in 1987 and asked why the Congress did not raise the issue.

Speaking to media at Dungarpur during election campaign yesterday, Dr Sharma alleged that the opposition was "playing politics" by raking up the issue of the photograph, he told reporters in Dungarpur.

"How can the photograph of Raje and Mazumdar-Shaw be construed as obscene when newspapers have published it," he said adding Mazumdar-Shaw was groomed in the western ways and expressed her affection by greeting Raje in such a manner.

When asked if the lip locking controversy would have any impact on Dungarpur bypoll to be held on December4, Raje said, "No, we will sweep the poll and will wrest the seat from the Congress party."