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Tag: ashok gehlot

  • Three Rajasthan ministers offer to quit ahead of reshuffling of Cabinet 

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Three Rajasthan ministers have written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, offering to quit their posts and work for the party, ahead of the expected Cabinet rejig in the state.

    Those who have offered to quit are Revenue Minister Harish Chaudhary, Medical and Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma and Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra, Congress general secretary, Ajay Maken told reporters here.

    “I am happy to inform you that three promising ministers of our Rajasthan cabinet have written to Sonia Gandhi today, offering to step down as ministers. They have also expressed desire to work for the party,” Maken said.

    Maken said, “The Congress party respects them.nWe are glad that there are such promising people who want to work for the party.”

    ALSO READ | Congress decision on Rajasthan and Gujarat units’ rejig after Rahul’s return to India

    Dotasra is currently the state president of the Congress while Sharma has recently been appointed by the party as the in-charge for Gujarat and Harish Chaudhary as the in-charge for Punjab.

    Two days ago, Gehlot had said that the cabinet restructuring would take place soon.

    At present, there are 21 members in the state Cabinet, including the chief minister.

    The number of MLAs in the state is 200, according to that the Cabinet can have a maximum of 30 members.

  • Three Rajasthan ministers offer to quit ahead of reshuffling of Gehlot govt Cabinet

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: The countdown for the new cabinet of the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan has started.

    Three members of the Gehlot cabinet, Medical and Health Minister Dr. Raghu Sharma, Revenue Minister Harish Chaudhary and Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra, have sent a letter to Congress national president Sonia Gandhi on Friday and have offered to resign.

    All three are in important position in the party and have expressed their desire to work in the organization.

    Raghu Sharma is in charge of Gujarat and Harish Chaudhary is in charge of Punjab. While Dotasara is the State Congress president.  The three Ministers have offered to resign following the one person one post formula.

    Meanwhile, Ajay Maken, the general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan, reached Jaipur today. He met CM Ashok Gehlot and PCC Chief Govind Dotasara at the airport and after that the three leaders went to CMR.  

    “I am happy to inform you that three promising ministers of our Rajasthan cabinet have written to Sonia Gandhi today, offering to step down as ministers. They have also expressed desire to work for the party,” Maken said.

    Maken said, “The Congress party respects them.nWe are glad that there are such promising people who want to work for the party.”

    Although Maken has come to attend the Kisan Vijay Diwas program to be celebrated by the Congress on Saturday, the timing of his visit is also being linked to the cabinet reorganization after these resignations. There are speculations that the swearing-in of the cabinet may take place on November 21 or 22.  

    ALSO READ | Congress decision on Rajasthan and Gujarat units’ rejig after Rahul’s return to India

    On Saturday, Governor Kalraj Mishra is returning to Jaipur after completing his Uttar Pradesh tour and Kisan Vijay Diwas will be celebrated by the Congress on the withdrawal of the Farm laws by Modi government. The meeting, which will be organized at the Civil Line gate, will be addressed by CM Ashok Gehlot, state party President Govind Singh Dotasra, Ajay Maken and other party leaders.

    Earlier this week, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had finally cleared the suspense on whether he will have an expansion or a reshuffle of his cabinet. While addressing government employees in Jaipur, CM Gehlot had admitted for the first time that he will be reshuffling his ministry soon.  

    In the swearing-in ceremony of the Secretariat Employees Union in Jaipur, CM Gehlot had expressed the possibility of holding a swearing-in ceremony soon. Gehlot said, “the omen of a relaxed swearing-in ceremony will be so great that there will be a proper reorganization of our cabinet. And that will happen soon.”

    Amidst the discussion over reshuffle in the Rajasthan cabinet, CM Gehlot had also hinted to state Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra to keep just one post.  

    After the departure of three ministers, a total of 12 posts are vacant in the cabinet. Sources say that all posts are unlikely to be filled up together and there will be appointments only on 9 -10 posts.

    According to sources, four to five of the new names will be decided from those suggested by Pilot and five of those who CM Gehlot backs.

  • ‘Victory of democracy, government withdrew agri laws due to fear of elections’: Opposition hails farmers

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 40 farm unions, on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to repeal the three farm laws.

    It also said that the SKM will take note of all developments and will hold its meeting soon and announce further decisions if any.

    “Samyukt Kisan Morcha welcomes this decision and will wait for the announcement to take effect through due parliamentary procedures,” the SKM said in a statement.

    “The agitation of farmers is not just against the repeal of the three black laws, but also for a statutory guarantee to remunerative prices for all agricultural produce and for all farmers. This important demand of farmers is still pending,” it said.

    In his address to the nation on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, Modi said the three farm laws will be repealed in the coming Winter session of Parliament.

    Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh under the aegis of various farmers unions have been protesting at the borders of the national capital since November 26 last year to demand repeal of the three farm laws.

    Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday took a dig at the government, saying that the move was not inspired by a change of heart but impelled by “fear of elections”.

    “What cannot be achieved by democratic protests can be achieved by the fear of impending elections!” Chidambaram tweeted.

    The PM’s announcement on the withdrawal of the three farm laws is not inspired by a change of policy or a change of heart.

    It is impelled by “fear of elections”, the Congress leader charged in a series of tweets.

    “Anyway, it is a great victory for the farmers and for the Congress party which was unwavering in its opposition to the farm laws,” Chidambaram said.

    Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday welcomed the government’s announcement to repeal the contentious farm laws, saying the “sacrifice” of farmers who died protesting against them will remain immortal.

    “Such a happy news has been received on Prakash Diwas. The three laws scrapped. More than 700 farmers martyred. Their sacrifice will remain immortal. The coming generations will remember how the farmers of the country saved farming and the farmers by risking their own lives. My tribute to farmers of my country,” Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

    the Shiv Sena and the NCP, which share power in Maharashtra, on Friday said the government had to finally bow down before the agitating farmers.

    Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, “For the first time the ‘mann ki baat’ of people has come out PM Modi’s mouth.

    BJP leaders were openly calling these farmers Khalistanis and Pakistanis, but the Union government had to bend before the farmers’ pressure.”

    “More than 400 farmers lost their lives during the protests on the borders of Delhi. Had Modi listened to our demands, many lives would have been saved. But the government was adamant and refused to listen to the farmers’ issues,” the Sena MP added.

    Nawab Malik, chief spokesperson of the NCP said in a tweet, “Jhukati hai duniya, jhukane wala chahiye. We salute all the farmers, many of them gave their life. The three farm laws have been withdrawn.”

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday congratulated farmers for their relentless fight against three farm laws and said they were not fazed by the “cruelty” of the BJP.

    “My heartfelt congratulations to every single farmer who fought relentlessly and were not fazed by the cruelty with which @BJP4India treated you. This is YOUR VICTORY! My deepest condolences to everyone who lost their loved ones in this fight.#FarmLaws,” Banerjee tweeted.

    Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said that the announcement of repealing the three farm laws is a victory of democracy and “defeat” of the arrogance of the Centre.

    He also said that it is a victory of the patience of farmers who kept agitating for the last one year.

    “The announcement of repealing all three black agricultural laws is a victory of democracy and defeat of the arrogance of the Modi government. This is a victory of the patience of the farmers who have been agitating for the last one year. The country can never forget that hundreds of farmers have lost their lives due to the short-sightedness and pride of the Modi government,” Gehlot tweeted.

    “I bow to all the farmers who sacrificed their lives in the farmers’ movement. This is the victory of their sacrifice,” he said.

    SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said no government should enact such “insensitive and cruel laws” again.

    “A defining moment in history and a historic victory of farmers on Gurupurab,” Badal said in a statement.

    Talking about the laws, Badal said, “It was for the first time in the history of democratic governments that brazen and cruel laws were made without even taking the stakeholders on board.’ “No govt should ever do such an insensitive and cruel thing again,” he asserted.

    Describing “700 farmers who died during the protest as martyrs”, Badal said, “The loss of these brave soldiers and the disgraceful and entirely avoidable events like the one at Lakhimpur will always remain a dark blot on the face of this government.”

    Eight people including four farmers were killed in the violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur on October 3.

    Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday congratulated farmers for “pressuring” the Centre to withdraw the three contentious farm laws, and described the government’s announcement as a victory not only of farmers, but also of democracy over injustice.

    “The Gandhian movement has once again shown its strength. Congratulations to the farmers of the country for pressuring the Central government to withdraw the three black laws. This is the victory of not only farmers, but also of democracy against injustice,” Baghel tweeted in Hindi.

  • Centre’s faulty polices leading to price hike, hitting Rajasthan revenue: CM Ashok Gehlot

    By PTI

    KOTA: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday lashed out at the Centre holding it responsible for the incessant rice in prices of essential commodities and also for bringing down the revenue of states.

    He urged the central government to formulate policies that strengthened the states and raised their revenue.

    Addressing a public assembly at Jorwarpura village in Pipalda area of Kota district, Gehlot claimed that the rise in prices was because of the Centre’s “faulty policies” and that the country was witnessing such steep hikes for the first time since Independence.

    ALSO READ | Gehlot’s query exposes bribery in transfer of Rajasthan teachers

    “The prices of petrol and diesel continued to rise and crossed Rs 100 per litre. They now cost around Rs 113-Rs 115 per litre. With the recent cut announced by the Centre on the excise tax, Rajasthan is set to lose around Rs 550 crore,” he said.

    The chief minister, however, urged the Narendra Modi-led government to further reduce the fuel prices by Rs 10-15 per litre, saying though this would mean a loss of around Rs 3,500 crore for the state, his government would bear it “in public interest”.

    Gehlot said it was not fair on the part of the Centre to pressure the states to reduces taxes but it was the responsibility of the central government to strengthen the states and formulate policies that would raise their revenue.

    He alleged the central government had reduced the state’s share in several schemes.

    The chief minister, accompanied by president of Rajasthan Congress Govind Singh Dotasra, landed in a helicopter here and inspected the ‘Prashasan Gaon Ke Sangh’ camp being held in the gram panchayat.

    ​ALSO READ | Symbolic reduction in excise duty on petrol, diesel will not bring down inflation: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

    At least 22 departments of the state government have set up their counters to sort out revenue, land, pension, water and electricity connection-related issues among others of the people.

    The chief minister reviewed the working of these counters and took feedback from the people.

    He handed over a wheelchair to a local specially-abled woman, Manjubai, asked her the reason for her disability and gently pushed her in the wheelchair in order to explain how it worked.

    Gehlot termed the ‘Prashashan Gaon Ke Sangh’ camp a great success in addressing the grievances of the public.

    At least 5,941 camps under the initiative have been organised so far in 352 panchyats of the state and over 6.09 lakh cases of mutation, 5.6 lakh cases of record correction, over 4,900 cases of residential land allotment, 6.55 lakh cases of various certificates, 70,000 cases of social security pension and over 31,300 cases of dispute over ways have been sorted out, he claimed.

    Later in the day, Gehlot also visited another camp at Thikerda village of Hindoli Panchyat Samiti in Bundi district.

  • Gehlot’s query exposes bribery in transfer of Rajasthan teachers

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR:  Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday faced an embarrassing moment when, at a state-level function to honour teachers, his audience told him they had to grease palms for transfers and postings. 

    Speaking at the felicitation programme in Jaipur, Gehlot asked the teachers if they had to pay bribes for transfers, to which they replied in a resounding ‘yes’. 

    Taken aback for a moment, the CM said it was very unfortunate.

    “A policy should be made on this. Sadly, the teachers are eager to get the transfer done by paying money. If a policy is made then the money shall not be transferred, nor will you have to go to the MLA. What is happening right now is that the one who knows MLA-MPs get their work done… There must be an end to this.”

    The episode also left Education Minister and State Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra embarrassed.

    Speaking later, he said, “The CM talked about the transfers and indicated that somewhere, the pocket of the common man gets pinched. All this will end upon implementation of the transfer policy under the leadership of the chief minister.”

    Till now, the government has not formulated the transfer policy though the Congress often used to make allegations of bribery in transfers and postings during the BJP rule. Dotasara himself had leveled allegations in the assembly. 

    Tuesday’s incident gave the BJP a chance to attack the state government. 

    “Teachers have provided clear evidence that there is enormous corruption. What else is left to prove? The CM himself is talking about it,” said the state BJP chief.  

    Another party leader, Rajendra Rathore, said the teachers had shown the “corrupt face of the government to everyone”.

  • Congress decision on Rajasthan and Gujarat units’ rejig after Rahul’s return to India

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Cabinet expansion in Rajasthan and organisational revamp in Gujarat Congress is on hold awaiting final approval of former party chief Rahul Gandhi, who is abroad on a personal visit.

    Rahul is expected to return before the start of the winter session of Parliament on November 29. Decision on changes in the two states is likely after that.

    Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi last week.

    Sources said a meeting of Gehlot is likely with Rahul before the reshuffle and changes in state Congress, while Pilot has already met the former Congress chief. Pilot has been pushing for Cabinet expansion to accommodate people from his camp in the government and the organisation.

    Sources further said that Gehlot reportedly wants to delay the expansion citing elections to four Rajya Sabha seats in the state next year.

    In his report to party high command, he has said there are chances of Congress winning at least three of them with support of smaller parties and Independents and changes in the organisation has to be made keeping in mind this.

    Terms of four BJP Rajya Sabha MPs — Omprakash Mathur, K J Alphons, Ramkumar Verma and Harshvardhan Singh Dungarpur — end in July 2022. In the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, Congress has 108 MLAs, BJP 71, 13 are Independents and the rest are Left and other parties.

    During his meeting with Sonia, Gehlot said the party should reward MLAs who saved the government when Pilot rebelled last year.

  • Now, Rajasthan cuts VAT to reduce fuel prices by up to Rs 5 per litre

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government on Tuesday decided to reduce petrol price by Rs 4 per litre and diesel rate by Rs 5 per litre from midnight.

    “In the cabinet meeting today, it was unanimously decided to reduce the rate of VAT on petrol and diesel. After this, the rates will be reduced by Rs 4 per litre in petrol and Rs 5 per litre in diesel from 12 o’clock tonight,” Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted.

    The meeting chaired by Gehlot was held at the chief minister’s residence.

    In the Cabinet meeting today, it was unanimously decided to reduce the rate of VAT on petrol/diesel. From 12 o’clock tonight, the rates will be reduced by Rs 4 per liter for petrol and Rs 5 per liter for diesel.
    — Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) November 16, 2021

  • Symbolic reduction in excise duty on petrol, diesel will not bring down inflation: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Saying that a “symbolic” reduction of Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre in the excise duty on petrol and diesel will not bring down inflation, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said the Centre should promise to the country that the fuel prices will not be increased in this way in the future.

    He also claimed that people know that after the Assembly polls in five states, the prices will start increasing again.

    The Centre recently reduced the central excise duty by Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre on the prices of petrol and diesel respectively.

    Subsequently, several states cut the Value-Added Tax (VAT) on fuel rates.

    The Congress government in Rajasthan is yet to announce a VAT reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel and is facing flak from the opposition BJP over the issue.

    Gehlot said he will hold discussions about reducing the VAT on petrol and diesel in the state at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday and an appropriate decision will be taken.

    “We will decide whatever is possible,” he said.

    The senior Congress leader said it is for the first time after independence that the country is facing such high inflation.

    Blaming the policies of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for this, he said the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders kept on increasing continuously and then Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre were reduced on the petrol and diesel rates, which is insufficient to curb the inflation.

    “Our demand is that you (Centre) make a promise to the country that the rates will not be increased in this way in the future, only then the inflation will start coming down,” Gehlot told reporters here.

    He said inflation is a big issue in the country and every household is affected.

    “Be it the middle class or the poor, living has become difficult. It has become difficult for women to run the kitchen,” the chief minister said, adding that the top priority of the NDA government should be to curb the inflation.

    Gehlot was at the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office to pay tributes to former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru on his birth anniversary.

    He also launched the “Jan Jagran Saptah” (public awareness week), under which various activities including foot marches will be conducted across the state on the issue of inflation, on a call given by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi.

  • Pilot meets Sonia ahead of Rajasthan Cabinet expansion, may bag senior party post

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Former Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot on Friday met party president Sonia Gandhi and expressed hope that a decision on long-pending Cabinet expansion and political appointments would be taken soon, keeping in mind that Assembly elections are due in 2023.

    Sources said that during the meeting, Pilot submitted a report related to the state and gave feedback on the work done by the state government.

    This meeting came a day after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Sonia to discuss Cabinet reshuffle and organisational revamp in the state.

    The decision on changes in the state is expected soon and people from Pilot’s camp will be accommodated both in the government and party while he himself may get a senior post in the party for the time being.

    He has been pushing for a change of guard.

    After his meeting with the Congress president, Pilot said: “I have full confidence in the decision of the Congress chief. There is a need for changes, especially when the state is only two years away from Assembly polls. During the long meeting, we had a detailed discussion on the political situation in Rajasthan and the working of the government. She was keen to hear the feedback and it’s worth appreciating that Madam Gandhi has been constantly taking feedback from the state.”

    The party has been trying to settle the differences between Gehlot and Pilot to quell infighting in the state unit. Gehlot, during his meeting with Sonia, said that the party should respect people who stood to save the government when Pilot rebelled last year.

  • Congress high command prepares blueprint for Rajasthan cabinet expansion, meets Gehlot & Pilot

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI/JAIPUR:  To end the rift in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former state chief Sachin Pilot held separate discussions with top Congress leadership over the proposed cabinet reshuffle and major political appointments in the state.

    Sources say the party high command had prepared a blueprint for cabinet expansion which was discussed with Gehlot and Pilot. The process, pending for some time, is likely to start at the earliest. The high command wants to settle the matter at the earliest to avoid a crisis situation like Punjab.

    Gehlot met general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal, general secretary UP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and state incharge Ajay Maken at former party chief Rahul Gandhi’s residence. Pilot also met Venugopal Wednesday to discuss induction of his supporters in the government, boards, corporations and in the organisation.

    Sources say that besides identifying the new ministers, names of the chairpersons for various boards and corporations were decided in this meeting. In Rajasthan, appointments of chairman and members are to be made in 40 boards, corporations and commissions. In addition, how much VAT rates should be reduced on petrol and diesel was also discussed.

    Before leaving for Delhi, CM Gehlot had visited Jodhpur on Tuesday where he had given clear indications about the expansion of the cabinet. Asked why he was going to Delhi, he clearly hinted that the expansion of the cabinet was on the agenda of his trip to Delhi. 

    There is pressure on the high command to give space in the government and party organisation to Pilot and his supporters. Independent and ex-BSP MLAs who supported the government during the crisis after Pilot’s rebellion a year ago, will also be suitably rewarded.