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Tag: Govind Singh Dotasara

  • ‘We are all united’: Rajasthan Congress chief on Gehlot-Pilot issue

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara on Friday downplayed the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, saying “We are all united”.

    He also said if a leader is not found popular in his constituency in the party’s pre-poll survey, he should not get a ticket even if it is him.

    “I am a man of the organisation and will take all people of the organisation along. Today, I can say that we are all united and are strengthening the Congress,” he told reporters here.

    “Pilot has already said that he has conveyed his point to the high command and at the same time, the AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has also conveyed his point to the high command,” the PCC chief said.

    “Then a third person should not comment on this.”

    On the chances of a Cabinet reshuffle before elections, he said, “This is the prerogative of the chief minister, but there are always possibilities.”

    On the allotment of tickets in elections, he said the party would give chances to those who are popular among the public. “Those who go among them and serve them will get the ticket.”

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

    The state assembly elections are due later this year.

    Last week, Pilot opened a front against chief minister Gehlot.

    Pilot said the Congress raised the issue of corruption when the party was in opposition during the BJP rule — from 2013 to 2018 — and promised in the 2018 assembly polls that action would be taken in the matter if the party forms the government in Rajasthan. However, no action was taken in over four years of the Congress government, he added.

    On this issue, he held a day-long dharna at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur last week.

    AICC in charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa called it an act against the party discipline. He also said that Pilot, who is an MLA, should have raised his demand for action in corruption cases in the Rajasthan Assembly, instead of holding the fast.

    With just a few months left for the assembly elections, the party held a one-on-one dialogue with MLAs and those who are supporting it and held a one-day workshop this week. Pilot skipped these programmes.

    However, on Thursday he went to a dharna here led by BJP’s Rajya Sabah MP Kirodi Lal Meena with the family members of a man who committed suicide, blaming Cabinet minister Mahesh Joshi and others for the extreme step. He demanded a fair investigation in the case.

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara on Friday downplayed the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, saying “We are all united”.

    He also said if a leader is not found popular in his constituency in the party’s pre-poll survey, he should not get a ticket even if it is him.

    “I am a man of the organisation and will take all people of the organisation along. Today, I can say that we are all united and are strengthening the Congress,” he told reporters here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Pilot has already said that he has conveyed his point to the high command and at the same time, the AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has also conveyed his point to the high command,” the PCC chief said.

    “Then a third person should not comment on this.”

    On the chances of a Cabinet reshuffle before elections, he said, “This is the prerogative of the chief minister, but there are always possibilities.”

    On the allotment of tickets in elections, he said the party would give chances to those who are popular among the public. “Those who go among them and serve them will get the ticket.”

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

    The state assembly elections are due later this year.

    Last week, Pilot opened a front against chief minister Gehlot.

    Pilot said the Congress raised the issue of corruption when the party was in opposition during the BJP rule — from 2013 to 2018 — and promised in the 2018 assembly polls that action would be taken in the matter if the party forms the government in Rajasthan. However, no action was taken in over four years of the Congress government, he added.

    On this issue, he held a day-long dharna at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur last week.

    AICC in charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa called it an act against the party discipline. He also said that Pilot, who is an MLA, should have raised his demand for action in corruption cases in the Rajasthan Assembly, instead of holding the fast.

    With just a few months left for the assembly elections, the party held a one-on-one dialogue with MLAs and those who are supporting it and held a one-day workshop this week. Pilot skipped these programmes.

    However, on Thursday he went to a dharna here led by BJP’s Rajya Sabah MP Kirodi Lal Meena with the family members of a man who committed suicide, blaming Cabinet minister Mahesh Joshi and others for the extreme step. He demanded a fair investigation in the case.

  • Row as Rajasthan Congress chief accepts Savarkar as freedom fighter, BJP thrilled

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Unlike his party bosses, Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara asserted that no one can deny that Veer Savarkar had participated in the freedom struggle and even went to jail for the sake of the motherland.

    The Congress leader’s acceptance of Savarkar as a freedom fighter is being seen as crossing the party line.

    Speaking at an event in Jaipur on the occasion of August Kranti Diwas on Monday, Dotasara said “we can’t deny that Savarkar did not play any role in country’s freedom struggle. He used to talk about Hindu Rashtra but it was not wrong at that time as our country was not independent and our Constitution was not formed.” 

    Dotasara’s remarks ignited a huge political row. Dotasara’s remarks have given the BJP an opportunity to embarrass the ruling Congress. 

    The BJP claimed that Dotasara’s statement directly implies that he recognizes the contribution of Savarkar in the freedom struggle and the truth about Savarkar is finally being accepted by Congress leaders such as Dotasara. 

    The Congress has attacked Savarkar for decades. In reality, the Hindutva ideologue played a major role in freeing the country and the truth cannot be hidden anymore – as Dotasara’s remarks reflect. 

    ALSO READ | Congress disagree with Shiv Sena’s demand for Bharat Ratna to Savarkar: Nana Patole

    Former state BJP president Ashok Parnami welcomed Dotasara’s comment and said: “The truth has finally came out from Dotasara’s tongue. Veer Savarkar was instrumental in liberating the country and such truth cannot be denied for long.” 

    For a long time, the Congress had been calling Veer Savarkar as an insider of the then British government. As he is now accused of crossing the party line, Dotasara has clarified that his remarks have been twisted by the BJP to suit its political aims.   

    Claiming that the country got independence because of people who believed in the ideology of the Congress, Dotasara said he had not said anything against the Congress’s view on Savarkar. He argued: “The kind of ideology, work, and thoughts that Savarkar had, if we read them in history books, then we find that he talked about a Hindu nation, which was not a sin before independence as at that time, our country was not free and the Constitution was not in force.

    “However, after our country became independent, the Constitution was adopted and people of every caste and religion accepted it, the BJP and the RSS conspired to use Savarkar’s ideology to create disharmony and make brothers fight against each other. We are against this ideology.” 

    The Rajasthan Congress chief also said, “we have to understand that Savarkar went to jail at that time and no one can deny this. But, after going to jail, he urged the British four times to set him free, explaining his usefulness to the British. It is recorded in history books.” 

  • Rajasthan government to reopen schools from August 2

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: Schools are all set to reopen in Rajasthan which were closed due to COVID-19. Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara has announced the opening of all schools in the state from August 2 by tweeting after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday evening.

    The government has decided to start classes in schools, colleges and universities. Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara said that a separate SOP for opening school wills be issued by Home Department in a day or two.

    “We had proposed to the Chief Minister that schools are closed for almost two years and education of backward sections of children is being disrupted in rural areas, so all schools should be opened, which has been approved,” said Dotasra.

    आज हुई कैबिनेट की बैठक में प्रदेश के सभी विद्यालयों को 02 अगस्त से खोलने का निर्णय लिया गया है।@rajeduofficial
    — Govind Singh Dotasra (@GovindDotasra) July 22, 2021

    He added that at present there is no risk of COVID-19 in young children and there is also no clarity about the third wave of COVID. “If the third wave comes, then schools can be closed again in view of the circumstances at that time, but for the time being, all the schools will be opened from August 2,” he clarified.

    Dotasra empasised that all COVID-19 guidelines will be followed in schools and not more than 20 children will be accommodated in a class room. “The health and education of the children will be taken care of and the department will issue guidelines in this respect within a couple of days,” he said.

    Schools, colleges have been closed for students since March 2020.  In the meeting of the Council of Ministers, there was a detailed discussion about starting classes in various educational institutions including schools, colleges, universities.  

    The Council of Ministers sought the opinion on opening schools and colleges from experrs who showed a positive attitude on this. It was agreed in the Council of Ministers that educational institutions should be opened by following the COVID-19 protocol and taking all the precautions.

  • Rajasthan minister, authorities deny vaccine wastage claims in state

    By ANI
    BUNDI (RAJASTHAN): After Covid-19 vaccine wastage was reported in several districts of Rajasthan, many state ministers, and authorities concerned have come forth to deny such claims.

    State Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara believes that the Centre is falsely accusing the state of vaccine wastage. Rajasthan is among the states which have reported the least wastage of Covid-19 vaccines, he added.

    “In the whole state of Rajasthan, there has not been any wastage above 10 per cent, as guided by the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. Rajasthan is in the bottom list of the vaccine wastage list of the Indian states. There are claims that the Bundi district reported 25 per cent wastage but it is actually only 2 per cent. Same is the case with other districts also. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government that failed to provide adequate vaccines, is now falsely accusing so that they garner good attention for themselves and Modi Ji would be shamed a little less. This is being deliberately done by the BJP leaders,” said Dotasara while speaking to media persons.

    From a single vial, 10 to 11 beneficiaries can be vaccinated. When a vial is opened, the doses are to be administered within four hours. In the primary health centres of Khatkad, Lakeri and Indergarh in the Bundi district, healthcare workers are compelled to throw vaccine doses in the dustbin as only a few villagers came for vaccination, as per ground reports.

    Meanwhile, Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas strongly refused to accept vaccine wastage and said the Centre is trying to distract people with rumours.

    “This is not a controversy. The leaders of BJP wish to distract the public with such talks. The Centre did not provide adequate vaccines for 18-44 year olds. There is not a single vaccine available for them,” said the Cabinet Minister.

    On the contrary, BJP state president Satish Poonia called the vaccine wastage situation in the state an “unfortunate” situation in the midst of a global pandemic.

    “The state government will be known in history for wasting Covid-19 vaccines amid the pandemic. It is unfortunate to do such a thing. The central government made an adequate allocation of the vaccines, but to witness vaccines being wasted in the state. This is negligence on the part of the state government. It would be difficult to answer that why such wastages happen in Congress-led states,” he said.

    According to the Red Cross vaccination centre in-charge Manoj Kumar, no specific reason has come to light for vaccine wastage. While speaking to ANI, he said, “No reason has come to light so far for vaccine wastage in Rajasthan. The dose that is opened deteriorates over four hours. Only when 4-5 people gather then only the vaccine vial must be opened and they should be vaccinated. We follow this procedure so that no vaccine dose is wasted at our centre.”

    His companion at the centre, Gajanand Kaahar, store in-charge also denied vaccine wastage claims at the centre.

    Alwar district vaccination in-charge Dr Arvind Gate told ANI that 0.11 per cent Covaxin and 0.89 per cent Covishield has been reported to be wasted.

    “The vaccination administered on the basis of online appointment has reduced the vaccine wastage to less than 1 per cent,” he said.

    He further said, “In Umren village, Alwar, 300 doses were wasted three months ago. Later, the amount was recovered with fine.”

    Meanwhile, Ajmer Chief Medical Health Officer KK Soni said no vaccine is being wasted in the district.

    “A new vial is opened only when seven people are present,” he added.

    According to official data, Rajasthan recorded 1,276 new cases, 65 deaths and 6,038 recoveries on Wednesday. The active case tally stood at 32,650.