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Tag: ashok gehlot

  • Rajasthan relieved as 30 districts report zero new Covid-19 cases

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Amid the fears of a possible third wave, Rajasthan is currently going through a remarkable Covid-free phase. The state registered just 3 cases on Thursday which is the lowest it has ever seen in a single day since the start of the pandemic. 

    In addition, it’s now nearly a month since the state saw a single Covid-related death. Also, the state has registered major success administering 4 crore doses whereby over one crore people in the state have now got both doses. As a result, over 20% of the state’s eligible population is now fully vaccinated. Rajasthan is the only state to achieve such a milestone. 

    Rajasthan is now moving towards a Corona-free phase. As many as 30 out of 33 districts in Rajasthan registered no new Covid cases in the past 24 hours. The state saw just 3 new cases on Thursday — the lowest in the 542 days of the coronavirus era. Only Jaipur, Alwar, and Baran districts saw one new case each and the state now has just 107 active cases – easily the lowest figure among the large states of the country. 

    ALSO READ | 100 days of Pinarayi govt: No respite from Covid, ministers a letdown

    In terms of Covid deaths, not one person succumbed to the infection in the past 24 hours. In fact, all through the month of August, Rajasthan has not seen a single Covid death and the total death toll in the state stands at 8954. 

    Significantly, of the 30,905 samples, only 3 patients tested positive on Thursday. As a result, the positivity rate came to just 0.009% which is the lowest ever recorded in the state.

    While the second wave has almost vanished, the health department is now focusing on vaccination. The number of beneficiaries who have got the second dose has crossed the figure of 1 crore. Of the total number of 5.14 crore people eligible for vaccination in the state, 1,00,89,107 have now received both the doses. Another 3.14 crore have received their first doses. In effect, over 60% of the people in the state have now been given at least one dose from the 3177 vaccination sites functional in the state. 

    Ironically, despite all these successes, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who has been suffering from post-Covid complications, was rushed to hospital on Friday morning after he complained of severe chest pain. The angioplasty was successfully done on him in a few hours at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital. 

    According to the Health Bulletin, Dr. Sudhir Bhandari, Superintendent of SMS Hospital, the Chief Minister’s health is improving now. Dr. Bhandari said, “CM’s angioplasty has been successful and now his tests are normal. After angioplasty, he will be kept under observation for 24 hours. The CM has been advised to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days. He is feeling better now.” 

  • Rajasthan CM Gehlot decries decision to modernise Sabarmati Ashram

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Friday said the decision to modernise the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad by altering its original form is wrong.

    He alleged the Centre and the Gujarat government are trying to erase the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi by tampering with the Ashram’s basic structure.

    “The decision of the Central government and the Government of Gujarat to destroy the original form of Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and modernise it is completely wrong. This decision is being criticised not only in India but all over the world.

    With this decision, the simplicity and purity of Sabarmati Ashram will end, he said in a series of tweets. He said that Mahatma Gandhi led a simple life and devoted it to the freedom struggle and to the service of humanity.

    “Creating state-of-the-art and luxury infrastructure in the ashram of the Mahatma who lived a simple life is contrary to the originality of his life. Bapu’s thoughts and principles are reflected in the Sabarmati Ashram,” he said.

    “All the intellectuals have opposed this move by writing a letter to the Central government. I again appeal to the Central government not to tamper with the original form of Sabarmati Ashram. Instead of trying to earn money from it, let it be a centre of contemplation,” he said.

    The Gandhi Ashram on the banks of the Sabarmati river, also known as Sabarmati Ashram, was where Mahatma Gandhi lived between 1917 and 1930 as he led the freedom struggle.

    It is now managed by the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust.

  • Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot undergoes angioplasty after experiencing severe chest pain

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday underwent angioplasty at the Sawai Man Singh government hospital here after experiencing severe chest pain.

    Lokesh Sharma, the officer on special duty to the chief minister, said, “The CM’s angioplasty has been done successfully. Everything is fine”.

    Earlier in the day, Gehlot had said that he would be undergoing angioplasty.

    “Post Covid I was having health issues & Since yesterday I was having severe pain in my chest. Just got my CT done in SMS hospital. Angioplasty will be done,” Gehlot tweeted.

    Angioplasty is a procedure to open clogged heart arteries.

    “I am happy that I am getting it done at SMS Hospital. I am fine and will be back soon. Your blessings and well wishes are with me,” he said.

    The 70-year-old Congress leader had tested positive for coronavirus in April this year.

  • Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot to undergo angioplasty after experiencing severe chest pain

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said that he will undergo angioplasty at a hospital here after experiencing severe chest pain.

    The 70-year-old Congress leader had tested positive for coronavirus in April this year.

    “Post Covid I was having health issues & Since yesterday I was having severe pain in my chest. Just got my CT done in SMS hospital. Angioplasty will be done,” Gehlot tweeted.

    Angioplasty is a procedure to open clogged heart arteries.

    “I am happy that I am getting it done at SMS Hospital. I am fine and will be back soon. Your blessings and well wishes are with me,” he said.

  • Rs 30 crore chopper is on sale for barely Rs 4 crore in Rajasthan. Find out details

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government is trying to sell an Agusta helicopter which has become a ‘white elephant in its fleet after it was grounded for almost a decade. 

    Though the state government bought the chopper for about Rs 30 crores in 2005, it is now ready to sell the same for barely Rs 4 crore. However, the government is still unable to find any buyers. Since 2011, this helicopter kept at the state Hangar in Jaipur is turning into junk. 

    Fresh tenders are now being invited for the flying machine along with spares and tools. The directorate of civil aviation, which has tried to sell off this chopper about a dozen times in the past, had fixed its price at Rs 4.5 crore. 

    The helicopter was procured during Vasundhara Raje’s first tenure as the CM in 2005. In 2011, following a technical glitch during a flight with the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on board, it was forced to be grounded. Officials said since then the chopper was considered ‘jinxed’ as it had put the life of Gehlot at risk. Ever since no CM has ever travelled in this helicopter and it is rusting at the state hanger. 

    ALSO READ | Over 1 crore people fully vaccinated against Covid in Rajasthan: Health minister

    Originally, this twin-engine A109E power helicopter with an in-built bar-refrigerator was meant to ferry VVIPs and procured at a cost of Rs 30 crores from Italian firm AgustaWestland. Sources in the government admit that the chopper has earned the tag of being jinxed after it suffered the technical glitch in November 2011 with then CM Ashok Gehlot and other people on board. Though the VIP and the two pilots managed to land the chopper safely, it was never used again as the machine was considered jinxed.

    Over the past decade, this chopper became a huge headache for the Rajasthan government. Though there have been 11 attempts to sell it, the chopper has found no takers. Recently, Chief secretary Niranjan Arya at a high-level meeting decided to re-auction this Agusta helicopter and directed officials to submit fresh proposals in this regard. The Chief secretary reportedly discussed in detail with the officials the present status of the Agusta helicopter and the feasibility of future use. Finally, in the meeting, it was agreed to sell off the Agusta helicopter through auction and the civil aviation department was directed to invite tenders to sell the chopper at a plus-minus rate from the reserve price. But with the chopper considered ‘jinxed’ and no CM having travelled in it for about 10 years, finding buyers for this Agusta helicopter which has been stranded at the state hanger won’t be easy.

  • Ahead of Rajasthan panchayat polls, BJP launches ‘black paper’ attack on Gehlot government

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: On the eve of the Panchayat polls, a major argument has erupted in Rajasthan over a ‘black paper’ released by the opposition BJP against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his government. The BJP has accused the ruling Congress of failing to fulfill their promises of waiving loans for needy farmers and offering unemployment allowance to jobless youth in the state. But the ruling Congress has dismissed the ‘black paper’ as a ‘pack of lies’.

    Releasing the black paper ahead of the panchayat elections in six districts, former state BJP president Arun Chaturvedi said a “jungle raj” is prevailing under the Congress government which has now completed two-and-a-half years of its term in the state. He alleged that the crime graph is rising and the morale of criminals is high.

    The black paper by the Rajasthan BJP projects the Ashok Gehlot-led government as a flop show. Speaking at the press conference while revealing their ‘black paper’ on Tuesday, Arun Chaturvedi said that the Congress government is not doing enough to find solutions.

    He said, “BJP is releasing the ‘black paper’ to highlight the shortcomings of the state government during the past two and a half years. The government is merely using its power to swing votes in their favour. Jungle raj is prevailing in the state. Promises of loan waivers for farmers, unemployment allowance to the youth have not been fulfilled. Electricity bills are rising.”

    “Development has completely stopped, no new roads are being built. Money given for development is not utilised. This government is only about declarations and cares only about power, in fact, they have been fighting for power internally,” Chaturvedi added. 

     The ruling Congress, however, has dismissed the BJP’s black paper as a ‘pack of lies’. Claiming that all the charges are baseless, the Congress President in the state Govind Singh Dotasara said, “In RSS Shakhas, these BJP leaders are trained only in speaking lies. The BJP is a house divided in Rajasthan and they are only fighting each other on who will become their CM face in the next elections. BJP leaders in the state are busy only on Twitter and in making false claims.”  

    Just a few weeks ago, in a meeting of the election manifesto review committee held in Jaipur, Chief Minister Gehlot had claimed that 64 per cent of the promises made in the 2018 assembly election manifesto have been fulfilled so far. “At least 321 out of 501 goals, that is 64 per cent of promises of the public manifesto have been fulfilled. Along with that, 138 other initiatives are under progress,” he had said.

    “Despite the first and the second wave of Covid-19, the government has successfully implemented the promises it made during the 2018 assembly election. In the last 2.5 years, along with complete development of the state, every effort has been made to ease the pain of those in need,” Gehlot had said.

    The Congress asserts that the handling of the Covid-19 crisis by the Rajasthan government has been appreciated as being one of the best in the state. The party claims it will triumph in the Panchayat polls on the basis of its performance since taking over in December 2018.

    The panchayat elections will be held in Bharatpur, Dausa, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur and Sirohi districts in three phases on August 26, 29 and September 1. The counting will take place on September 4.

  • Congress kept democracy intact during its 70-year rule: Gehlot

    He said it was very easy to ask what the Congress did during its 70 years in power. In these 70 years, the Congress kept the country and democracy intact and further strengthened them.

  • Rajasthan Cabinet reshuffle on hold as CM Gehlot rejects Pilot camp’s demand of six berths 

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: The long-pending demands of Cabinet reshuffle and political appointments in Rajasthan have turned into a major headache for the Congress high command as the final formula for the move is yet to be decided. 

    The reshuffling in the Ashok Gehlot cabinet was widely expected to happen by August 15. The delay has led to unease and restlessness in both Sachin Pilot and Gehlot camps. Though Congress leaders are claiming that ‘all is well’ in the state unit, the cabinet reshuffle has become a really tough exercise for the party. 

    Sources say that the Pilot camp has asked for six ministers to be made from the faction. They said besides the three ministers, who were ousted during the Pilot-led revolt last year, Sachin Pilot has demanded a total of six cabinet berths for his loyal MLAs. However, Gehlot is unwilling to oblige and has given his consent for only three berths to the Pilot lobby. 

    ALSO READ | Row as Rajasthan Congress chief accepts Savarkar as freedom fighter, BJP thrilled

    Ever since the revolt last year when Pilot and his 18 loyal MLAs had stayed in Haryana for almost a month, the political uncertainty in Rajasthan has been continuing. Given the huge crisis, even the Congress High Command is wary of taking any step that may aggravate the tension between the Gehlot-Pilot camps. While the top leadership is keen to live up to the promises made to Sachin Pilot, it also does not wish to do anything that may anger Gehlot and his loyalists. As they search for a middle path, the entire exercise is getting delayed further.   

    Currently, CM Gehlot is said to be not in favour of a major reshuffle in his cabinet. Sources say that major changes may not be seen in the first cabinet reshuffle and a maximum of three to five ministers can be inducted. A senior minister in the Gehlot cabinet, on condition of anonymity,  revealed: “Gehlot will decide the exact number of MLAs from the Pilot camp to be taken into the Cabinet. It’s only Gehlow who will finalise the names of the MLAs to be given ministerial berths. The CM is a close confidante of the Gandhi family and the party is not at all keen to embarrass him in any way. The expansion/reshuffle is getting delayed because Gehlot is not in favour of accepting the unreasonable demands of the pilot camp.” 

    Congress insiders say that the decision on cabinet expansion/reshuffle will soon be taken by the party High Command. Meanwhile, AICC general secretary The party incharge of Rajasthan Ajay Maken said that it is for the party high command to decide the date for the cabinet reshuffle. “Some may say it’s too late, but it is our party’s strategy. Soon the decision of the high command will be known to everyone,” he said. 

    Maken claimed that everything is under control and work on the issue is under process. As Rajasthan is a major state, regional and caste balance has also to be seen, he added.

  • Rajasthan CM approves draft of scheme to provide financial support to youngsters in urban areas

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved the draft of the Indira Gandhi Urban Credit Card Scheme, 2021 on Monday for providing financial support to street vendors, youngsters employed in the service sector and those looking for self-employment.

    There are schemes such as MGNREGA to provide employment opportunities in rural areas, but there is no such scheme for urban areas, an official statement issued here said.

    Gehlot had announced in this year’s budget that a scheme would be launched to generate employment and self-employment opportunities, and to cater to the daily needs of youngsters in urban areas affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The scheme will provide financial support to street vendors, hairdressers, rickshaw-pullers, carpenters, potters, cobblers, masons, tailors, washermen, painters, electricians and plumbers.

    The beneficiaries will be given interest-free loans of up to Rs 50,000 without any guarantee.

    A total of five lakh beneficiaries living within the limits of urban local bodies will be covered under the scheme, the statement said.

    The Department of Local Self Government will implement the scheme in the state.

    The moratorium period of the loan is three months and the repayment period 12 months.

    The district collectors will be the nodal officers for an effective implementation and a review of the scheme.

    In another decision, the chief minister gave relaxations in 38 appointments made on compassionate grounds.

    In the last two-and-a-half years, the state government has given relaxations in 875 cases and a total of 3,304 dependents of those who died while serving the government have been given appointments on compassionate grounds, the statement said.

  • Centre has grown stubborn, refuses to heed Opposition: Gehlot hits out at Modi government

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday accused the Centre of being too stubborn to heed anyone else, including the Opposition.

    Counselling the Centre to shun the alleged arrogance “which does not last in politics”, Gehlot asserted that people understand everything and will teach it a lesson at an appropriate time.

    “There is a place for dissent in a democracy. It must be there. When they were in the Opposition, they criticised us, leading to the resignations of the then railway minister, law minister and various chief ministers,” Gehlot told reporters after hoisting the Tricolour on Independence Day here.

    “They are such people who are determined to rule the country stubbornly without bothering to hear anyone,” he added.

    The chief minister’s remark prompted Rajasthan’s BJP president Satish Poonia to take a dig at Gehlot and other Congress leaders.

    “Gehlot is the first chief minister who proudly says he did not venture out of his home during the Covid pandemic,” said Poonia.

    In the year 2023, the people of Rajasthan will end this and “quarantine” Congress out of power, he asserted.

    He said the emergency was the biggest struggle in this country after independence and everyone knows who imposed it, he added.

    “They talk about democracy. Either they do not know the history or are deliberately ignoring it,” Poonia said.

    Earlier during the day, Independence Day was celebrated with much fervour in Rajasthan with Chief Minister Gehlot hoisting the flag at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Stadium and taking the guard of honour.

    While talking to reporters, Gehlot also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being the “sole PM in the last 75 years who hesitates in taking the name of former PM Jawaharlal Nehru”.

    “I regret that PM Modi feels shy of speaking even two words about the first PM. With these people having such an attitude, one can understand where will they take the country to,” Gehlot said.

    The chief minister also accused the Centre of keeping various democratic institutions and investigative agencies, including the judiciary, Income Tax Department, CBI and ED under its pressure and misusing them for political purposes.

    “They start raids in states immediately before elections,” said Gehlot, adding raids by investigative agencies and electioneering by political parties have never happened together.

    Earlier in a video message on the 75th Independence Day of the country, Gehlot said people should follow the spirit of the Constitution to keep the country united.

    He said the spirit of unity in diversity should be imbibed by the new generation.

    While greeting people, he recalled the sacrifices of leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.

    “Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life to ensure that Khalistan is not formed. Similarly, former PM Rajiv Gandhi got martyred to ensure peace prevails in the subcontinent,” he added.

    Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra also targeted the Centre, saying the BJP ruling the Centre and other states does not have any faith in democracy.

    He said the autonomy of constitutional institutions is being infringed by the BJP governments in the Centre and various states.

    He said those who express dissent are termed as anti-national.

    “Farmers have been fighting for the last 10 months demanding the withdrawal of three agricultural laws but instead of finding a solution, the Central is adopting various tactics to suppress their movement,” he added.

    He asserted that the Congress workers will “uproot these fascist forces” working against the values of the democracy.

    Governor Kalraj Mishra also hoisted the Tricolour at Raj Bhavan here and took the guard of honour.