Archive · 5 Aug 2026
'No magic here': Shekhawat takes swipe at Gehlot
A minister from India named Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited the city of Jodhpur.
He joked that he didn't see any 'magic spell' there.
This was a playful way of poking fun at the former leader of the state, Ashok Gehlot, who had visited Jodhpur recently.
Mr. Shekhawat said his political party, the BJP, will win big in local elections coming up in Rajasthan.
He said the whole party is united and working hard to win.
He also praised the state's current leader, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, for bringing development to every area.
Mr. Shekhawat talked about a new trade deal between India and the United Kingdom.
The deal removes taxes on almost all products India sells to the UK.
That helps businesses that make handicrafts, jewellery and leather goods.
The deal also makes it easier for Indians to travel to the UK for work and business.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he saw no "magic spell" in Jodhpur, a jibe at former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's recent visit.
Shekhawat expressed confidence that the BJP would secure a decisive mandate in Rajasthan's upcoming Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections.
He credited Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's leadership, saying development has reached every Assembly constituency in the state.
Shekhawat hailed the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, saying it eliminates import duties on nearly 99 per cent of Indian products entering the UK market.
He said goods worth $140 million were exported from India to the UK on the first day of the agreement's implementation.
- Who
- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism; his remarks targeted former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
- What
- Shekhawat took a swipe at Gehlot's recent Jodhpur visit, predicted a BJP victory in Rajasthan's local body elections, and praised the India-UK Free Trade Agreement.
- When
- Wednesday, during Shekhawat's one-day visit to Jodhpur.
- Where
- Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
- Why
- He was responding to media queries about Gehlot's visit and discussing the upcoming Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections and the FTA's benefits for Rajasthan.
- Event
- Union Minister Shekhawat's one-day visit to Jodhpur
- Location
- Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
- Speaker
- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism
- Remarks target
- Ashok Gehlot, former Rajasthan Chief Minister
- Upcoming elections
- Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections in Rajasthan
- India-UK FTA tariff coverage
- Import duties removed on nearly 99% of Indian products entering the UK
- First-day exports to UK
- $140 million
- FTA highlights
- Relief for engineering, handicrafts and leather sectors; Mobility Pact to simplify visas