News Analysis India

Tag: ashok gehlot

  • Kamla Beniwal: Congress veteran and former Gujarat governor Kamla Beniwal dies, condolences pour in

    Veteran Congress leader and former governor of Gujarat Kamla Beniwal died at a private hospital in Jaipur on Wednesday. She was 97.

    Beniwal was admitted to the hospital after a brief illness. One of her family members said the funeral will be held on Thursday.

    Apart from Gujarat, she also served as governor of Tripura and Mizoram. A seven-time MLA, Beniwal also remained the deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, apart from holding other positions in the state government and the Congress party. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and other leaders condoled the demise of Beniwal. Mishra expressed grief on the demise of Beniwal and prayed for peace to the departed soul. In a post on X, the chief minister wrote, “The news of the demise of Dr Kamla Beniwal, former governor of Gujarat and former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, is extremely sad. My condolences are with the bereaved family.” Speaker of Rajasthan assembly Vasudev Devnani said recalled Beniwal was a “good administrator and public representative”.

    Devnani, in a statement said, the Congress leader participated in India’s Independence struggle and had a “long experience in the field of politics”.

    “Dr Kamla was elected as MLA seven times. She was also the chairperson and member of various committees of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly,” he added.

    Former chief minister Gehlot said he was deeply shocked by the news of the demise of Beniwal.

    “Her personality was multi-faceted and she did exemplary work in every field, apart from politics,” he said.

    Gehlot said that Beniwal was a senior colleague in his cabinet in his first term as the state’s chief minister and he got to learn a lot from her during the period.

    “She was an efficient administrator, dynamic speaker and a strong leader. Her commitment and loyalty towards the Congress ideology is an example,” he said.

    Gehlot added that as the governor of Gujarat, Beniwal further enhanced the dignity of that post by protecting constitutional values.

  • Rajasthan Petrol Pump Strike: Fuel Stations Go On Strike Demanding Reduction In VAT

    Addressing rallies during the assembly elections held in November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to look into ways to reduce the fuel prices in the state. Long queues were witnessed at fuel stations yesterday. 

  • Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot Tests Positive For Covid, Swine Flu

    Gehlot has asked people to prioritise their well-being during the transitional weather.

  • ‘PM has resorted to tactics of FDI – fear, deception, intimidation’: Congress on Rajasthan ED raids

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Slamming the Centre over the ED’s action against its leaders in poll-bound Rajasthan, the Congress on Thursday alleged that faced with the prospect of “certain defeat”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resorted to tactics of “FDI – fear, deception and intimidation.”

    The party said people would give a befitting reply to the BJP for resorting to such tactics.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday raided the premises of Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and party candidate from the Mahua assembly seat as part of a money laundering investigation into the alleged exam paper leak case in the state, official sources said.

    It also summoned Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case.

    Several Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, spoke out on the matter.

    Kharge alleged that agencies such as the ED, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax Department become the real ‘panna pramukh’ (party workers) of the BJP as soon as elections come.

    “Seeing its certain defeat in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party made its last throw of the dice! After Chhattisgarh, the ED has also entered the election campaign in Rajasthan and started action against Congress leaders,” Kharge said.

    “The dictatorship of the Modi government is fatal for democracy. We will continue to fight against the misuse of agencies, and the public will give a befitting reply to the BJP,” the Congress chief said in a post on X.

    Ashok Gehlot said that the Congress launched “guarantees” (poll promises) for women of Rajasthan on Wednesday and the ED’s action against Dotasra and Vaibhav Gehlot came just a day later.

    “Now you can understand what I have been saying…ED’s raids happen every day in Rajasthan because the BJP does not want women, farmers and poor in the state to get the benefit of the guarantees given by Congress,” Gehlot said in a post in Hindi on X.

    Elections for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held on November 25 and results be declared on December 3.

    In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that the prime minister has been taken aback by the popularity of the schemes of the Congress government in Rajasthan over the last five years. “Faced with the prospect of certain defeat, the Prime Minister has resorted to his usual FDI tactics – Fear, Deception and Intimidation, and has unleashed the ED on Congress leaders in the state,” he said.

    “This sort of vendetta politics and the politics of polarisation is all that the BJP stands for today. The people of Rajasthan will give a befitting reply to the Prime Minister and his party in the forthcoming elections,” Ramesh said.

    Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot alleged that the ED’s action against Congress leaders was “politically motivated” and an indication that the BJP is trailing in all five poll-bound states.

    Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Pilot said, “Elections are set to take place in Rajasthan in a few days from now and the Model Code of Conduct is in place but the timing, intent and objective of the government of India agencies’ action in various places in Rajasthan is suspicious.”

    The Congress is against corruption and in favour of action being taken if there is an impartial inquiry and any evidence is found, but the government is specifically targeting leaders without any facts seeing an “imminent defeat” of the BJP in the upcoming polls in Rajasthan, Pilot said.

    “This is to give a message that if the BJP becomes weaker politically it will misuse various agencies and intimidate people. The Congress opposes this…The BJP is trailing in all five states and today’s action is a clear indication of that,” he said.

    Slamming the ED’s action, Ashok Gehlot at a press conference in Jaipur said the BJP is unleashing “terror” in the country.

    He also said the ED swung into action after he announced two poll promises on Wednesday for women of the state. He said that five more promises were also going to be declared on Friday and dared the ED to find five more Congress leaders to take action. The chief minister also likened the ED action to a locust attack and said the ED raids would destroy BJP’s crops.

    Ashok Gehlot claimed that ED’s raids happen wherever elections are held.

    Be it Chhattisgarh, Karnataka or Himachal Pradesh, ED’s raids happened just before elections, the chief minister said. “Raids happened but the Congress won the elections. The situation is worrisome. They have unleashed terror in the country,” Gehlot said at the presser.

    Asserting that the Congress “will not be scared no matter how hard they try”, he alleged the BJP was targeting him through ED raids as they could not topple his government.

    “We will win the elections,” the chief minister asserted.

    Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also lashed out at the Union government over the ED’s action.

    “Just last week, Ashok Gehlot ji held a press conference in Delhi and raised questions on the role of central agencies in the elections. Today again, ED has become very active in Rajasthan. Modi ji, contest elections directly, stop taking the help of agencies,” Khera said in a post in Hindi on X.

    Ashok Gehlot last week alleged that the BJP-led Centre is misusing probe agencies to target opposition leaders even after the enforcement of the model code of conduct, and urged PM Modi and the Election Commission to intervene. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: Slamming the Centre over the ED’s action against its leaders in poll-bound Rajasthan, the Congress on Thursday alleged that faced with the prospect of “certain defeat”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resorted to tactics of “FDI – fear, deception and intimidation.”

    The party said people would give a befitting reply to the BJP for resorting to such tactics.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday raided the premises of Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and party candidate from the Mahua assembly seat as part of a money laundering investigation into the alleged exam paper leak case in the state, official sources said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    It also summoned Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case.

    Several Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, spoke out on the matter.

    Kharge alleged that agencies such as the ED, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax Department become the real ‘panna pramukh’ (party workers) of the BJP as soon as elections come.

    “Seeing its certain defeat in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party made its last throw of the dice! After Chhattisgarh, the ED has also entered the election campaign in Rajasthan and started action against Congress leaders,” Kharge said.

    “The dictatorship of the Modi government is fatal for democracy. We will continue to fight against the misuse of agencies, and the public will give a befitting reply to the BJP,” the Congress chief said in a post on X.

    Ashok Gehlot said that the Congress launched “guarantees” (poll promises) for women of Rajasthan on Wednesday and the ED’s action against Dotasra and Vaibhav Gehlot came just a day later.

    “Now you can understand what I have been saying…ED’s raids happen every day in Rajasthan because the BJP does not want women, farmers and poor in the state to get the benefit of the guarantees given by Congress,” Gehlot said in a post in Hindi on X.

    Elections for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held on November 25 and results be declared on December 3.

    In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that the prime minister has been taken aback by the popularity of the schemes of the Congress government in Rajasthan over the last five years. “Faced with the prospect of certain defeat, the Prime Minister has resorted to his usual FDI tactics – Fear, Deception and Intimidation, and has unleashed the ED on Congress leaders in the state,” he said.

    “This sort of vendetta politics and the politics of polarisation is all that the BJP stands for today. The people of Rajasthan will give a befitting reply to the Prime Minister and his party in the forthcoming elections,” Ramesh said.

    Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot alleged that the ED’s action against Congress leaders was “politically motivated” and an indication that the BJP is trailing in all five poll-bound states.

    Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Pilot said, “Elections are set to take place in Rajasthan in a few days from now and the Model Code of Conduct is in place but the timing, intent and objective of the government of India agencies’ action in various places in Rajasthan is suspicious.”

    The Congress is against corruption and in favour of action being taken if there is an impartial inquiry and any evidence is found, but the government is specifically targeting leaders without any facts seeing an “imminent defeat” of the BJP in the upcoming polls in Rajasthan, Pilot said.

    “This is to give a message that if the BJP becomes weaker politically it will misuse various agencies and intimidate people. The Congress opposes this…The BJP is trailing in all five states and today’s action is a clear indication of that,” he said.

    Slamming the ED’s action, Ashok Gehlot at a press conference in Jaipur said the BJP is unleashing “terror” in the country.

    He also said the ED swung into action after he announced two poll promises on Wednesday for women of the state. He said that five more promises were also going to be declared on Friday and dared the ED to find five more Congress leaders to take action. The chief minister also likened the ED action to a locust attack and said the ED raids would destroy BJP’s crops.

    Ashok Gehlot claimed that ED’s raids happen wherever elections are held.

    Be it Chhattisgarh, Karnataka or Himachal Pradesh, ED’s raids happened just before elections, the chief minister said. “Raids happened but the Congress won the elections. The situation is worrisome. They have unleashed terror in the country,” Gehlot said at the presser.

    Asserting that the Congress “will not be scared no matter how hard they try”, he alleged the BJP was targeting him through ED raids as they could not topple his government.

    “We will win the elections,” the chief minister asserted.

    Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also lashed out at the Union government over the ED’s action.

    “Just last week, Ashok Gehlot ji held a press conference in Delhi and raised questions on the role of central agencies in the elections. Today again, ED has become very active in Rajasthan. Modi ji, contest elections directly, stop taking the help of agencies,” Khera said in a post in Hindi on X.

    Ashok Gehlot last week alleged that the BJP-led Centre is misusing probe agencies to target opposition leaders even after the enforcement of the model code of conduct, and urged PM Modi and the Election Commission to intervene. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Like Bihar, caste survey will be carried out in Rajasthan, says CM Ashok Gehlot ahead of assembly polls

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that a caste survey will be carried out in the state, on the lines of a similar exercise conducted in Bihar.

    The issue was discussed on Friday at a core committee meeting of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) held at the party’s war room here. Apart from Gehlot, the meeting was attended by Congress in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Randhawa, RPCC president Govind Singh Dotasra and other leaders.

    “The Rajasthan government will also conduct a caste survey like the one held in Bihar,” Gehlot told reporters on Friday after the meeting. He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s concept of caste survey and participation in proportion to the population would be furthered in the state.

    “Therefore, we have decided that keeping in mind the mandate of the party, the Rajasthan government should declare this campaign,” he said.

    “There are various castes within the country. People of various religions live here. Different castes do different jobs. If we know how much population of which caste is there, we can know what plans we have to make for them. It will be easier for us to prepare schemes caste-wise,” he said.

    Randhawa said discussions on the yatra on the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) issue were also held in the meeting, apart from the caste-based survey.

    Earlier, the Congress had planned to take out a five-day yatra in eastern Rajasthan to demand national project status for the ERCP that would address the irrigation and drinking water needs of 13 districts. However, the party postponed it.

    Rajasthan Congress president Dotasra on Friday said a crucial meeting will be held on Monday in which dates of the yatra on the ERCP issue will be decided. The slogan of the Congress’ election campaign will be – ‘Kaam Kiya Dil Se, Congress Fir Se’, he added. The 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election is expected to be held in or before December this year.

    READ MORE | BJP chief Nadda asks party leaders not to target caste-based survey report in Bihar

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that a caste survey will be carried out in the state, on the lines of a similar exercise conducted in Bihar.

    The issue was discussed on Friday at a core committee meeting of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) held at the party’s war room here. Apart from Gehlot, the meeting was attended by Congress in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Randhawa, RPCC president Govind Singh Dotasra and other leaders.

    “The Rajasthan government will also conduct a caste survey like the one held in Bihar,” Gehlot told reporters on Friday after the meeting. He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s concept of caste survey and participation in proportion to the population would be furthered in the state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    “Therefore, we have decided that keeping in mind the mandate of the party, the Rajasthan government should declare this campaign,” he said.

    “There are various castes within the country. People of various religions live here. Different castes do different jobs. If we know how much population of which caste is there, we can know what plans we have to make for them. It will be easier for us to prepare schemes caste-wise,” he said.

    Randhawa said discussions on the yatra on the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) issue were also held in the meeting, apart from the caste-based survey.

    Earlier, the Congress had planned to take out a five-day yatra in eastern Rajasthan to demand national project status for the ERCP that would address the irrigation and drinking water needs of 13 districts. However, the party postponed it.

    Rajasthan Congress president Dotasra on Friday said a crucial meeting will be held on Monday in which dates of the yatra on the ERCP issue will be decided. The slogan of the Congress’ election campaign will be – ‘Kaam Kiya Dil Se, Congress Fir Se’, he added. The 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election is expected to be held in or before December this year.

    READ MORE | BJP chief Nadda asks party leaders not to target caste-based survey report in Bihar

  • After years of discord, Pilot, Gehlot bonhomie ahead of polls in Rajasthan

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: In the lead-up to the imminent assembly elections in Rajasthan, a sense of unity has emerged within the divided ranks of the Congress party.  

    The protracted tussle between former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, and CM Ashok Gehlot, which had persisted for the past four years, is now showing signs of abatement. 

    This significant shift in dynamics has become increasingly evident following Pilot’s recent inclusion in the CWC committee.  

    A notable outcome of this reconciliation has been the prominent appearance of Gehlot’s image across Pilot’s social media accounts, as well as on promotional materials related to Pilot’s initiatives. 

    Conversely, Gehlot has also taken to social media platforms to express his protest against comments made by the BJP concerning Sachin’s father, Rajesh Pilot.

    This newfound amicability between Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Gehlot holds the potential to reshape the landscape of the upcoming assembly elections.

    JAIPUR: In the lead-up to the imminent assembly elections in Rajasthan, a sense of unity has emerged within the divided ranks of the Congress party.  

    The protracted tussle between former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, and CM Ashok Gehlot, which had persisted for the past four years, is now showing signs of abatement. 

    This significant shift in dynamics has become increasingly evident following Pilot’s recent inclusion in the CWC committee.  googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    A notable outcome of this reconciliation has been the prominent appearance of Gehlot’s image across Pilot’s social media accounts, as well as on promotional materials related to Pilot’s initiatives. 

    Conversely, Gehlot has also taken to social media platforms to express his protest against comments made by the BJP concerning Sachin’s father, Rajesh Pilot.

    This newfound amicability between Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Gehlot holds the potential to reshape the landscape of the upcoming assembly elections.

  • Rajasthan: ‘Molesters will not get government jobs in State’, says CM Ashok Gehlot

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, habitual eve-teasers and molesters will now be debarred from getting government jobs, said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

    Aiming to bolster the safety and security of women and girls in the state, the Chief Minister on Tuesday announced those involved in eve-teasing or molestation of women and girls will be ineligible for government jobs. 

    During a crucial law and order meeting held late on Tuesday night, CM Gehlot expressed his unwavering determination to prioritise the well-being of women and girls. He directed the officials to take stringent actions against habitual miscreants and molesters.

    Under this special move, the Gehlot government has ordered that character certificates of the men who get involved in eve teasing will have a special mention of this. As part of the new measures, character certificates of individuals caught eve-teasing or molesting women will explicitly mention their offence. Furthermore, the names of these offenders will be forwarded to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and the Staff Selection Board. 

    The government has asked the police department to keep a detailed record of such men and records of those convicted in eve teasing will be sent to RPSC and the employees selection board. This proactive approach will ensure that such individuals are barred from future government job opportunities, as their applications will be rejected if they match the existing database.

    CM Gehlot said,” Checking crime against women and crime against those who come under the vulnerable section of the society is our government’s top priority. We will ensure permanent cure of all problems that eve-teasers and molesters create in the state.”

    He said a special operation will be initiated with policemen deployed in schools, colleges, and markets to monitor crime against women and girls. The places with higher rates of complaints regarding misbehaviour will receive special attention, and monitoring will be intensified through fixed points in these areas.

    In addition to this, Gehlot has directed the officials to take strict action against the bars and nightclubs which open beyond the stipulated time. Along with the managers of these clubs, the responsibility of the owners will also be fixed. He said that action will be taken to cancel the license of such clubs for violating the rules.

    With these new directives in place, Rajasthan is taking a progressive stance in safeguarding the dignity and well-being of women and girls, while ensuring that offenders face appropriate consequences for their actions. 

    Ahead of the assembly elections, the Gehlot government has been under a lot of pressure over the law and order situation in general and about rising crimes against women in the state. Rajasthan currently has the highest number of crimes against women in the country.

    JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, habitual eve-teasers and molesters will now be debarred from getting government jobs, said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

    Aiming to bolster the safety and security of women and girls in the state, the Chief Minister on Tuesday announced those involved in eve-teasing or molestation of women and girls will be ineligible for government jobs. 

    During a crucial law and order meeting held late on Tuesday night, CM Gehlot expressed his unwavering determination to prioritise the well-being of women and girls. He directed the officials to take stringent actions against habitual miscreants and molesters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Under this special move, the Gehlot government has ordered that character certificates of the men who get involved in eve teasing will have a special mention of this. As part of the new measures, character certificates of individuals caught eve-teasing or molesting women will explicitly mention their offence. Furthermore, the names of these offenders will be forwarded to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and the Staff Selection Board. 

    The government has asked the police department to keep a detailed record of such men and records of those convicted in eve teasing will be sent to RPSC and the employees selection board. This proactive approach will ensure that such individuals are barred from future government job opportunities, as their applications will be rejected if they match the existing database.

    CM Gehlot said,” Checking crime against women and crime against those who come under the vulnerable section of the society is our government’s top priority. We will ensure permanent cure of all problems that eve-teasers and molesters create in the state.”

    He said a special operation will be initiated with policemen deployed in schools, colleges, and markets to monitor crime against women and girls. The places with higher rates of complaints regarding misbehaviour will receive special attention, and monitoring will be intensified through fixed points in these areas.

    In addition to this, Gehlot has directed the officials to take strict action against the bars and nightclubs which open beyond the stipulated time. Along with the managers of these clubs, the responsibility of the owners will also be fixed. He said that action will be taken to cancel the license of such clubs for violating the rules.

    With these new directives in place, Rajasthan is taking a progressive stance in safeguarding the dignity and well-being of women and girls, while ensuring that offenders face appropriate consequences for their actions. 

    Ahead of the assembly elections, the Gehlot government has been under a lot of pressure over the law and order situation in general and about rising crimes against women in the state. Rajasthan currently has the highest number of crimes against women in the country.

  • Will not tolerate those involved in crimes against women: CM Gehlot over Bhilwara case

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said his government has taken incidents like those in Bhilwara and Jodhpur very seriously and has directed the state police to deal strictly with people involved in crimes against women.

    He also accused the BJP of trying to defame Rajasthan and turning a blind eye when such incidents happen in states ruled by the party.

    His remarks came as the BJP targeted the Gehlot government over the murder of a minor girl who was later burned in a coal furnace in Bhilwara. Locals claimed she was gang-raped too.

    The BJP’s youth wing BJYM held a protest here on Saturday over the issue.

    Gehlot later tweeted, “Police have so far arrested seven accused in the heinous incident of Bhilwara. These accused will be given severe punishment as soon as possible by presenting charge sheet in minimum time in a fast track court”.

    भीलवाड़ा के कोटडी में बालिका के रेप एवं हत्या की जघन्य घटना में पुलिस ने अभी तक 7 आरोपियों को गिरफ्तार कर लिया है। कल इस मामले को लेकर CS, DGP एवं अन्य वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों से विस्तृत चर्चा की। इस मामले को केस ऑफिसर स्कीम के तहत लेकर न्यूनतम समय में चालान पेश कर एवं फास्ट ट्रैक…
    — Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) August 5, 2023
    “Some mischievous (manchale) boys spoil the whole atmosphere. Yesterday, we told the Director General of Police, the Chief Secretary and other officers to bring them to justice,” the chief minister earlier told reporters.

    “The government is taking incidents like those in Bhilwara and Jodhpur very seriously and efforts are being made to punish the culprits at the earliest,” he said.

    He said people with a criminal mindset who misbehave with women will not be tolerated in the state.

    Asked about the opposition BJP’s criticism of the law and order issue, Gehlot said the party was deliberately trying to create a perception “that is far from reality”.

    “Rajasthan is a very peace-loving state. An attempt is being made to defame it by comparing it with Manipur. Some incidents have happened. Such incidents happen in every state, for example, Madhya Pradesh. But they turn a blind eye when it comes to these states,” he said.

    Gehlot stressed educating society on issues like atrocities on women. “Such a situation should not arise that boys and girls leave the house without asking.”

    He said that family members should also take care of their children and try to understand what is going on in their hearts and mind.

    ALSO READ | Minor Dalit girl gang-raped on Jodhpur campus in front of boyfriend, accused arrested

    “Many children commit suicide. Many children kill each other. This can stop only when the parents have a big heart. Suppose someone has a love affair, then parents should explain and give them permission to get married. The children leave the house in anger when they make it a question of their prestige,” he said.

    Gehlot, in his interaction with the media, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Manipur issue, saying they had made a “huge blunder”.

    “Manipur is burning. And you compare Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh with that state. This is pure politics. We reject it,” he said.

    On the Supreme Court’s stay on the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 defamation case, Gehlot said the court’s remarks are enough to send a message to the people of the country and alleged that the case was a conspiracy to remove Rahul Gandhi from Parliament.

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said his government has taken incidents like those in Bhilwara and Jodhpur very seriously and has directed the state police to deal strictly with people involved in crimes against women.

    He also accused the BJP of trying to defame Rajasthan and turning a blind eye when such incidents happen in states ruled by the party.

    His remarks came as the BJP targeted the Gehlot government over the murder of a minor girl who was later burned in a coal furnace in Bhilwara. Locals claimed she was gang-raped too.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The BJP’s youth wing BJYM held a protest here on Saturday over the issue.

    Gehlot later tweeted, “Police have so far arrested seven accused in the heinous incident of Bhilwara. These accused will be given severe punishment as soon as possible by presenting charge sheet in minimum time in a fast track court”.

    भीलवाड़ा के कोटडी में बालिका के रेप एवं हत्या की जघन्य घटना में पुलिस ने अभी तक 7 आरोपियों को गिरफ्तार कर लिया है। कल इस मामले को लेकर CS, DGP एवं अन्य वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों से विस्तृत चर्चा की। इस मामले को केस ऑफिसर स्कीम के तहत लेकर न्यूनतम समय में चालान पेश कर एवं फास्ट ट्रैक…
    — Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) August 5, 2023
    “Some mischievous (manchale) boys spoil the whole atmosphere. Yesterday, we told the Director General of Police, the Chief Secretary and other officers to bring them to justice,” the chief minister earlier told reporters.

    “The government is taking incidents like those in Bhilwara and Jodhpur very seriously and efforts are being made to punish the culprits at the earliest,” he said.

    He said people with a criminal mindset who misbehave with women will not be tolerated in the state.

    Asked about the opposition BJP’s criticism of the law and order issue, Gehlot said the party was deliberately trying to create a perception “that is far from reality”.

    “Rajasthan is a very peace-loving state. An attempt is being made to defame it by comparing it with Manipur. Some incidents have happened. Such incidents happen in every state, for example, Madhya Pradesh. But they turn a blind eye when it comes to these states,” he said.

    Gehlot stressed educating society on issues like atrocities on women. “Such a situation should not arise that boys and girls leave the house without asking.”

    He said that family members should also take care of their children and try to understand what is going on in their hearts and mind.

    ALSO READ | Minor Dalit girl gang-raped on Jodhpur campus in front of boyfriend, accused arrested

    “Many children commit suicide. Many children kill each other. This can stop only when the parents have a big heart. Suppose someone has a love affair, then parents should explain and give them permission to get married. The children leave the house in anger when they make it a question of their prestige,” he said.

    Gehlot, in his interaction with the media, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Manipur issue, saying they had made a “huge blunder”.

    “Manipur is burning. And you compare Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh with that state. This is pure politics. We reject it,” he said.

    On the Supreme Court’s stay on the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 defamation case, Gehlot said the court’s remarks are enough to send a message to the people of the country and alleged that the case was a conspiracy to remove Rahul Gandhi from Parliament.

  • Rajasthan CM Gehlot’s sacking of cabinet minister sparks a political row in poll-bound state

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: The dismissal of Rajasthan cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Gudha by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has ignited a huge controversy over the issue of women’s safety in the state.

    Gudha was dismissed on Friday after he questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    Following his dismissal, CM Gehlot held a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday but refrained from clarifying the reasons behind the minister’s removal.

    However, he staunchly defended his government’s record on law and order, particularly addressing the allegations of crimes against women. Gehlot said that comparing the situation in Rajasthan with that of Manipur, as alleged, is “unjustifiable.”

    When asked about the continuous criticism and protests against the government by Rajendra Gudha, who had been vocal about various issues, including law and order, CM Gehlot responded that this matter pertains to the party’s internal affairs and will be addressed after discussions within the party.

    It appears that the former minister had been challenging CM Gehlot’s government for several months, making provocative statements. However, his recent remarks during the assembly session seem to have triggered his dismissal from the government.

    Rajendra Gudha is among the six former BSP MLAs who switched to Congress in 2020. Though he was earlier in the Gehlot group, in the past year or so he had moved into the Sachin Pilot camp.

    Given his provocative remarks in the last few months, many believe that his recent actions indicate a desire to leave Congress before the upcoming elections. Notably, Rajendra Gudha’s repeated statements had been causing discomfort for the Ashok Gehlot government.

    However, experts also opine that Gudha himself may have orchestrated this situation to distance himself from the Gehlot government.

    Having contested three elections so far, Rajendra Gudha won two on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. Despite his victories, he joined the Congress along with other BSP MLAs on both occasions and held ministerial positions.

    Considering the caste and political dynamics of Gudha’s assembly seat, Udaipurwati, the former minister and his supporters are said to believe that it might be more suitable for him to contest elections with a third force rather than representing the Congress or BJP. His recent opposition to the Gehlot government just ahead of the elections indicates this possibility.

    Given that Gudha left the BSP after winning elections twice on their ticket, it might be challenging for the party to trust him for a third time.

    Consequently, he also held a meeting with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and there are speculations that he might contest the upcoming election from Owaisi’s party. Alternatively, he could consider running as an independent candidate. However, his immediate aim is to be expelled from the Congress.

    All eyes are now focused on what Gudha’s next course of action will be. It is likely that when Gudha addresses the Assembly on Monday, he will say something that leads to his expulsion from the party.

    JAIPUR: The dismissal of Rajasthan cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Gudha by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has ignited a huge controversy over the issue of women’s safety in the state.

    Gudha was dismissed on Friday after he questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    Following his dismissal, CM Gehlot held a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday but refrained from clarifying the reasons behind the minister’s removal.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    However, he staunchly defended his government’s record on law and order, particularly addressing the allegations of crimes against women. Gehlot said that comparing the situation in Rajasthan with that of Manipur, as alleged, is “unjustifiable.”

    When asked about the continuous criticism and protests against the government by Rajendra Gudha, who had been vocal about various issues, including law and order, CM Gehlot responded that this matter pertains to the party’s internal affairs and will be addressed after discussions within the party.

    It appears that the former minister had been challenging CM Gehlot’s government for several months, making provocative statements. However, his recent remarks during the assembly session seem to have triggered his dismissal from the government.

    Rajendra Gudha is among the six former BSP MLAs who switched to Congress in 2020. Though he was earlier in the Gehlot group, in the past year or so he had moved into the Sachin Pilot camp.

    Given his provocative remarks in the last few months, many believe that his recent actions indicate a desire to leave Congress before the upcoming elections. Notably, Rajendra Gudha’s repeated statements had been causing discomfort for the Ashok Gehlot government.

    However, experts also opine that Gudha himself may have orchestrated this situation to distance himself from the Gehlot government.

    Having contested three elections so far, Rajendra Gudha won two on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. Despite his victories, he joined the Congress along with other BSP MLAs on both occasions and held ministerial positions.

    Considering the caste and political dynamics of Gudha’s assembly seat, Udaipurwati, the former minister and his supporters are said to believe that it might be more suitable for him to contest elections with a third force rather than representing the Congress or BJP. His recent opposition to the Gehlot government just ahead of the elections indicates this possibility.

    Given that Gudha left the BSP after winning elections twice on their ticket, it might be challenging for the party to trust him for a third time.

    Consequently, he also held a meeting with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and there are speculations that he might contest the upcoming election from Owaisi’s party. Alternatively, he could consider running as an independent candidate. However, his immediate aim is to be expelled from the Congress.

    All eyes are now focused on what Gudha’s next course of action will be. It is likely that when Gudha addresses the Assembly on Monday, he will say something that leads to his expulsion from the party.

  • Rajasthan CM Gehlot sacks state minister Rajendra Gudha for his remarks on law and order

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday sacked Rajendra Gudha as minister of state, hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly.

    Gudha held charge as Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.

    A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said, “Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended Governor Kalraj Mishra to dismiss a member of the council of ministers Rajendra Gudha in the evening. The governor has accepted this recommendation with immediate effect.”

    Gudha on Friday questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    During the discussion on the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guaranteed Bill, 2023, in the Assembly, Congress MLAs waved placards on the Manipur violence.

    The protest, however, did not go down well with Gudha, who sought accountability from his own government on crimes against women.

    “The way we have failed to provide security to women in Rajasthan and atrocities on women have increased, instead of raising the issue of Manipur, we should introspect,” Gudha said in the assembly.

    Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore latched onto Gudha’s statement and slammed the state government, saying Rajasthan tops the chart for crimes against women.

    Rathore later asked Gehlot, who is also the home minister, to take responsibility for the “poor” state of law and order in Rajasthan.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal responded to the charges, saying that the state government has supplied the House with the statistics that show that the maximum number of atrocities were committed on women during BJP rule.

    Hours later, after a green signal from the party’s high command, Gehlot sent a recommendation to the governor to sack Gudha.

    Following his sacking, Gudha told reporters that he was punished for speaking the truth. “Rajasthan is at the number one position in crimes against women. What did I say? I got the punishment for speaking the truth,” he said.

    BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Meena sided with Gudha and said he spoke the truth in the assembly.

    “Law and order in Rajasthan has deteriorated and crimes against women have increased multifold. The minister had expressed what is true,” he said.

    Gudha, who is among six MLAs who won the 2018 assembly elections on a BSP ticket before defecting to the Congress in September 2019, was inducted as a minister in November 2021. He represents Jhunjhunu’s Udaipurwati constituency.

    Gudha and other MLAs who won on a BSP ticket had supported Gehlot in July 2020, during his tussle with his then-deputy Sachin Pilot, which had led to a political crisis.

    However, in the last few months, Gudha has made statements in favour of Pilot. He has also caused embarrassment to the Congress-led government with his recent statements.

    In a widely circulated video a few days ago, he was heard saying that Gehlot and Pilot were running after him, so there must be some quality in him.

    Gudha also launched a scathing attack on the Congress government and alleged that the dispensation had surpassed Karnataka’s “40 per cent commission BJP government” in corruption.

    While addressing a rally in support of Pilot in May, Gudha said, “Hamari sarkar ka alignment kharab ho gaya (our government’s alignment has been disturbed). The record of corruption has been broken. There was an issue of 40 per cent corruption in Karnataka. Our government has surpassed it,” he had said.

    He also met AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi during his recent visit to the state.

    Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the second day in a row on Friday following vociferous protests over the Manipur violence by opposition MPs.

    The Monsoon session started on Thursday, a day after a horrific video of two women being sexually assaulted and paraded by a mob on May 4 in a Manipur village went viral.

    ‘Sacked for telling the truth’

    The BJP on Friday accused Gehlot of sacking Gudha for telling the truth and added that “it shows how serious the ruling Congress is about the issue of crimes against women.”

    Reacting to the minister’s sacking, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said in a tweet in Hindi that Gehlot removed Gudha from his cabinet for telling “the truth.”

    “This shows how serious Congress is about harassment of women,” the BJP leader charged.

    Senior BJP leader and Union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat also targeted the Rajasthan chief minister and said in a tweet in Hindi, “Telling the truth is forbidden in Gehlot’s regime.”

    “The chief minister does not have the courage to accept the truth. When his minister Rajendra Gudha ji told the truth in the assembly, Gehlot ji felt so bad that he removed him from the post itself,” Shekhawat said. With this, Gehlot has warned his colleagues if they speak the truth, they will not be spared, the Union minister charged. “Intimidating one’s own comrades, gagging them will also be called oppression,” he added.

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday sacked Rajendra Gudha as minister of state, hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly.

    Gudha held charge as Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.

    A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said, “Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended Governor Kalraj Mishra to dismiss a member of the council of ministers Rajendra Gudha in the evening. The governor has accepted this recommendation with immediate effect.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Gudha on Friday questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    During the discussion on the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guaranteed Bill, 2023, in the Assembly, Congress MLAs waved placards on the Manipur violence.

    The protest, however, did not go down well with Gudha, who sought accountability from his own government on crimes against women.

    “The way we have failed to provide security to women in Rajasthan and atrocities on women have increased, instead of raising the issue of Manipur, we should introspect,” Gudha said in the assembly.

    Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore latched onto Gudha’s statement and slammed the state government, saying Rajasthan tops the chart for crimes against women.

    Rathore later asked Gehlot, who is also the home minister, to take responsibility for the “poor” state of law and order in Rajasthan.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal responded to the charges, saying that the state government has supplied the House with the statistics that show that the maximum number of atrocities were committed on women during BJP rule.

    Hours later, after a green signal from the party’s high command, Gehlot sent a recommendation to the governor to sack Gudha.

    Following his sacking, Gudha told reporters that he was punished for speaking the truth. “Rajasthan is at the number one position in crimes against women. What did I say? I got the punishment for speaking the truth,” he said.

    BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Meena sided with Gudha and said he spoke the truth in the assembly.

    “Law and order in Rajasthan has deteriorated and crimes against women have increased multifold. The minister had expressed what is true,” he said.

    Gudha, who is among six MLAs who won the 2018 assembly elections on a BSP ticket before defecting to the Congress in September 2019, was inducted as a minister in November 2021. He represents Jhunjhunu’s Udaipurwati constituency.

    Gudha and other MLAs who won on a BSP ticket had supported Gehlot in July 2020, during his tussle with his then-deputy Sachin Pilot, which had led to a political crisis.

    However, in the last few months, Gudha has made statements in favour of Pilot. He has also caused embarrassment to the Congress-led government with his recent statements.

    In a widely circulated video a few days ago, he was heard saying that Gehlot and Pilot were running after him, so there must be some quality in him.

    Gudha also launched a scathing attack on the Congress government and alleged that the dispensation had surpassed Karnataka’s “40 per cent commission BJP government” in corruption.

    While addressing a rally in support of Pilot in May, Gudha said, “Hamari sarkar ka alignment kharab ho gaya (our government’s alignment has been disturbed). The record of corruption has been broken. There was an issue of 40 per cent corruption in Karnataka. Our government has surpassed it,” he had said.

    He also met AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi during his recent visit to the state.

    Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the second day in a row on Friday following vociferous protests over the Manipur violence by opposition MPs.

    The Monsoon session started on Thursday, a day after a horrific video of two women being sexually assaulted and paraded by a mob on May 4 in a Manipur village went viral.

    ‘Sacked for telling the truth’

    The BJP on Friday accused Gehlot of sacking Gudha for telling the truth and added that “it shows how serious the ruling Congress is about the issue of crimes against women.”

    Reacting to the minister’s sacking, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said in a tweet in Hindi that Gehlot removed Gudha from his cabinet for telling “the truth.”

    “This shows how serious Congress is about harassment of women,” the BJP leader charged.

    Senior BJP leader and Union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat also targeted the Rajasthan chief minister and said in a tweet in Hindi, “Telling the truth is forbidden in Gehlot’s regime.”

    “The chief minister does not have the courage to accept the truth. When his minister Rajendra Gudha ji told the truth in the assembly, Gehlot ji felt so bad that he removed him from the post itself,” Shekhawat said. With this, Gehlot has warned his colleagues if they speak the truth, they will not be spared, the Union minister charged. “Intimidating one’s own comrades, gagging them will also be called oppression,” he added.