News Analysis India

Tag: Kalraj Mishra

  • 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 Assembly’s Budget session begins, BJP demands CBI probe into REET paper leak

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: The Budget session of the Rajasthan Assembly began on Wednesday with Governor Kalraj Mishra highlighting the state government’s achievements in his address in the House and the opposition BJP demanding a CBI probe into the REET paper leak scandal.

    Despite the governor asking them to sit down, the BJP members, who wore black bands on their arms, kept standing in their places as a mark of protest. Three Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MLAs also entered the well of the House over the REET paper leak issue and staged a walkout.

    However, there was no disruption and the governor completed his address in nearly an hour. Mishra lauded the state government for its management of the COVID-19 pandemic and said it had emerged as a “role model”.

    During the pandemic, 33 lakh poor families were given financial assistance of Rs 5,500 each with total spending of Rs 1,815 crore, he said. He added that the state also developed the capacity to conduct 1.45 lakh RT-PCR tests and the health infrastructure was strengthened.

    The governor said the state government waived farmers’ loans worth Rs 8,181 crore from cooperative banks. Apart from this, the government settled an outstanding payment of Rs 6,000 crore of the previous government.

    With this, the government has waived farmers’ loans worth more than Rs 14,000 crore in all. On the state government’s ‘I Am Shakti Yojana’ to distribute free sanitary napkins to girls, Mishra said it is the beginning of a change.

    ALSO READ| REET paper leak: Guilty won’t be spared, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

    Earlier, there was hesitation in society in talking about menstruation and menstrual hygiene, which resulted in women contracting serious diseases. Now, with this scheme, women will get rid of such problems, he said.

    Due to the compulsory registration of FIRs in the state, Mishra said, women and the weaker sections have been encouraged to come forward to register police complaints.

    In 2017, nearly 33.4 per cent of rape cases were registered through courts. This has now come down to 16 per cent, he said. Similarly, the average time for the investigation of rape cases has come down from 274 in 2017-18 to 79 days now, he added.

    The governor highlighted various other government schemes and programmes like ‘Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana’ and transgender welfare fund, etc.

    The House reassembled after Mishra left. Newly elected Congress MLAs Preeti Shaktawat (Vallabhnagar) and Nagraj Meena (Dhariawad) took oath. They won bye-elections in November last year.

    Later, Speaker CP Joshi made obituary references and the House paid tributes to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar; country’s first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat; former Rajya Sabha MP Jamna Devi; former Lok Sabha MPs Gangaram Koli, Shyam Sundar Somani, Brijraj Singh and DN Patodiya; former MLAs Jainarayan Poonia, Mahipal Maderna, Mohan Lal Chauhan, Kamal Ram Koli, Jeetmal Jain, Ramkaran Chaudhary, Heeralal Khant, Goverdhan Singh and Surajmal.

    The House also paid tributes to those killed in a road accident at the Jodhpur-Balotra road on November 11 last year and in the Guwahati-Bikaner train accident on January 13 this year. After the obituary references, the House was adjourned for the day.

  • BJP leader writes to Governor on Gehlot government’s political appointments

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Rajendra Rathore has written to Governor Kalraj Mishra, claiming that the state government is trying to appoint more MLAs to the posts of adviser to the chief minister and as parliamentary secretaries than the set constitutional limit.

    In his letter to the governor, the BJP leader said that the state government has already given office of profit to six MLAs by appointing them as advisers to the chief minister on par with cabinet or minister of state rank.

    This is unconstitutional, Rathore claimed.

    He also claimed that there are plans to appoint a dozen parliamentary secretaries on par with cabinet and minister of state rank.

    These appointments of advisers and parliamentary secretaires violate the constitutional norm that “the number of ministers in the government can be up to 15 per cent of the total assembly seats”, Rathore said.

    There are 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan.

    He alleged that the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in the state was intending to do so to please dissatisfied MLAs.

    Rathore’s remarks come in the backdrop of the expansion of the Gehlot cabinet in which many Congress and independent MLAs, who were expecting ministerial berths, were not accommodated.

    These legislators would be adjusted through political appointments such as parliamentary secretaries and advisers, sources had said on Sunday, when 15 new ministers were sworn in.

    “The number of ministers in the government can be up to 15 per cent of the total assembly seats according to the Constitution and it (state government) is trying to please the dissatisfied MLAs by giving them office of profit by appointing them as advisers and parliamentary secretaries, which is illegal and unconstitutional,” he said in his letter.

    Citing Articles 164 (1A), 191 (1) (A) and 246 of the Constitution and a Supreme Court decision, Rathore said that appointment of parliamentary secretaries and advisers is clearly defined.

    On the appointment of six MLAs as advisers to the chief minister, Rathore was referring to the appointment of three Congress and as many independent MLAs to the post after the Cabinet expansion on Sunday In his letter, Rathore said that the Congress has been facing infighting since it came to power in Rajasthan and now by going above the limit defined in the Constitution, is trying to please dissatisfied legislators by giving them appointments of parliamentary secretaries and advisers.

    “We demand that the governor cancel appointment of advisers to the chief minister and bind the state government to not appoint parliamentary secretaries,” Rathore said.

    Those appointed advisers are — Congress MLAs Jitendra Singh, Rajkumar Sharma and Danish Abrar, and independent MLAs Babu Lal Nagar, Sanyam Lodha and Ramkesh Meena, according to a list of the chief minister’s office.

    The Congress has 108 MLAs in the 200-member assembly.

    It also has the support of 12 out of 13 independent MLAs.

    With the induction of 12 new ministers and elevation of three ministers from MoS to cabinet rank, the number of the ministry now has 30 members, the maximum possible for Rajasthan.

    The council of ministers has 19 cabinet ministers and 10 ministers of state, apart from the chief minister.

  • Decision to repeal three farm laws is step in positive direction: Rajasthan Governor

    By PTI

    BHADOHI: Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Saturday said that the Centre’s decision to repeal the three farm laws, which triggered a year of protests by farmers, is a step in the positive direction.

    He, however, noted that the legislations are in the interests of farmers but the “administration could not make some of the farmers understand”.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced repeal of the three agri laws and also apologised to the people over his government not being able to “convince” a section of farmers about the “truth” regarding the legislations’ benefits “The announcement of repealing the three farm laws is a step in the positive direction.

    The act of repealing the laws with courage and valour is praiseworthy.

    The laws were made in the interest of farmers, but the administration could not make some of the farmers understand,” Mishra said.

    The governor was in Babhannauti village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi district to attend a marriage programme.

    He also said that owing to the farmers’ protest to demand the withdrawal of the three farm laws, there was a “peculiar situation (‘vichitra sthiti’)” in the country, which does not exist now.

    When asked about political developments in Rajasthan, Mishra said that he is keeping a watch, but refused to elaborate.

  • Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra stresses on bridging digital gap for students in rural areas

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Monday stressed on bridging the digital gap in the present era of information and communication technology so everyone can get practical benefit of online education.

    He was addressing an online inaugural session of Massive Open Online Courses’ (MOOCs’) teacher training programme and e-learning organised by Delhi University.

    He said the basic objective of the new education policy was an all-round development of the students.

    In order to make quality education accessible to everyone from urban to rural areas, special emphasis has been laid on online and digital education in the new education policy, Mishra said.

    He said the earlier education system was focused on learning and delivering results.

    Students were assessed on the basis of scores obtained, which was a one-way approach to student development, he said.

    The governor said the new education policy lays emphasis on such a structure of education which will help the students at different stages of learning.

    MOOCs is a web-based free distance education programme that ensures the participation of students from geographically remote areas in the field of education, he explained.

    MOOCs and e-learning will open new doors of accessible online education in the context of the new education policy.

    Mukul Kanitkar, National Organisation Secretary of Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal said that in the era of online education, along with bridging the digital gap, it is also a big challenge to stop digital misuse.

    He suggested that we develop educational intranet as an alternative to Internet for educational activities.

  • VCs receive bill for unsolicited copies of Rajasthan Guv Kalraj Mishra’s biography

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: The vice-chancellors of many state universities of Rajasthan were left surprised when they each received a bill of Rs. 68,383 along with an alleged unsolicited package of 19 copies of the biography of Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra after they attended the book launch on Thursday.

    The vice-chancellors of all the 27 state universities had attended the unveiling of the book by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the Raj Bhavan on July 1, according to official sources.

    One of the vice-chancellors, who received the books, said on the condition of anonymity that it was surprising that the books, along with the bill, were kept in their vehicles though they had never asked for them. However, the publisher claimed that the books were provided to the VCs who had ordered them.

    “There were two cartons with the copies of the biography,” the VC said.

    Several of the VCs said they only came to know about the copies of the book and the bill, to be paid to the publisher International Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (IIME), when they returned to their respective homes and offices.

    As the controversy left the Raj Bhavan red-faced, Governor Kalraj Mishra tweeted that the Raj Bhavan has no role in the marketing and business activity of the book.

    An official at Raj Bhavan also said action against the publisher will be taken if there is any wrongdoing and the VCs can return the books.

    The coffee table book ”Kalraj Mishra: Nimmit Matr Hun Main” was launched on July 1. On the same day, a conference of VCs was also scheduled.

    The VCs attended the book launch event and after lunch, the vice chancellors” conference took place at the Raj Bhavan.

    In the meantime, the books were kept in the vehicles of the VCs and the bills were given to the drivers by the representative of the publisher, which is a research organisation.

    The bill contains the name of five books- ”Kalraj Mishra: Nimmit Matr Hun Main”, ”Jaipur: Gem of India”, ”The Marwari Heritage”, ”The Heritage of Indian Tea” and ”Pune: A City of Many Shades ad Colours””.

    The publisher said that the bill of Rs. 68,383 was for all the five books mentioned in the bill while one of the VCs claimed that no book other than the biography was there in the package.

    Interestingly, the invoice mentions the rate, number of copies and the total amount for only the biography and no rate or number of copies or amount was mentioned for other books.

    The biography, as per the bill, is priced at Rs. 3,999 and the total amount for 19 copies is Rs. 75,981.

    The publisher also gave a 10 percent discount which reduces the final amount to Rs. 68,383. The bill also mentions the bank account details of IIME.

    “The event was organised by us and the books were given as per the order of the vice-chancellors. They raised a demand for the books and we gave them along with the bill,” DK Taknet, who is associated with the IIME, said.

    However, he could not explain that if the bill was for the set of five books, and not alone for the biography, then why there was no mention of their rates, number of copies and amount in the bill.

    He also did not clarify when the orders were given, how many VCs gave the orders and for how many copies, saying the details were not available to him immediately.

    After the controversy erupted, Governor Kalraj Mishra on Sunday tweeted and clarified that Raj Bhavan has no role in the marketing and business activities related to the book.

    “Some news has been circulated regarding the marketing of the book ”Kalraj Mishra – Nimmit Matr Hun Main”, which was released in Raj Bhavan on 1st July. This is primarily personal information between the publisher IIME, a research institute, and the buyer,” he tweeted.

    “The publisher had published the book and sought permission to release it in the Raj Bhavan, which was given to him. But Raj Bhavan has no role or any affiliation in the business activities, marketing of the book,” the governor said.

    “The Raj Bhavan had no role in this. The event was organised by the publisher and if something has been done by them against protocol, then action will be taken,” a Raj Bhavan official said.

    He said that the VCs can return the books if they want.

  • Need to develop marketing policy for agri, animal husbandry sectors: Rajasthan Guv Kalraj Mishra

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Thursday stressed on developing an effective marketing policy for agriculture, animal husbandry and dairy products sectors in the state.

    Speaking at a virtual programme of Agriculture University, Jodhpur and Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (RAJUVAS), Bikaner, he said an effective marketing policy will help agriculture and animal husbandry products make their place in the global market.

    Describing the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors as the mainstay of the state’s development, the Governor said these industries should get the benefit of advancement in science and technology.

    Agriculture and animal husbandry provide livelihood opportunities to a large population in rural areas and in view of the diverse geographical conditions in western Rajasthan, farmers are dependent on animal husbandry for supplementary income, he said.

    “Therefore, there is a need for documentation of innovations in the field of livestock protection and management,” Mishra said, while suggesting RAJUVAS to prepare an action plan for promotion and marketing of products.

    Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also addressed the event, saying the state government endeavours to expand the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors at a fast pace.

    “To promote these two sectors, in the last three budgets, the state government had made several announcements. These include a separate budget for agriculture from the coming financial year,” he said.

    Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria and others also attended the virtual event.

  • Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra adopts stray dog, names him Chintamani

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Saturday adopted a stray dog and named it Chintamani.

    Governor Mishra also appealed to the people to sympathise with stray dogs and come forward to look after them, the Rajasthan Bhawan said in a statement.

    He also insisted on campaigning to save dogs of Indian species, it added.

    Viren Sharma of ”Protection of Animal and Welfare Society”, an organisation working for the protection of animal lovers and stray dogs helped in the adoption, the statement said.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had also appealed to the people in the ”Mann Ki Baat” some time ago to come forward to protect stray dogs.

  • Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra urges people to take precautions against mutated COVID-19 strain

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Wednesday appealed people to take precautions against the new mutated strain of COVID-19.

    It is worrisome that Kerala, Maharashtra and other neighbouring states have reported a new strain of coronavirus.

    The spreading of the virus is not over yet and the new form of coronavirus is more dangerous as it spreads rapidly, Mishra said in a statement.

    He urged people to take all precautions and protect themselves by following prescribed measures even after getting vaccinated.

    Avoid unnecessary travelling, wear a mask and maintain physical distance, he said in his appeal.

    The governor said prevention of the spread of the virus is of utmost importance and if anyone experiences symptoms related to it then they should immediately seek medical advice.

    According to doctors, the vaccine for coronavirus is completely safe, Mishra said as he asked people not to pay attention to any kind of rumuors and misconceptions.

    Mishra was administered the first dose of the vaccine on Monday.

  • Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra starts VHP’s fundraising campaign for Arodhya’s Ram temple

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra has made a financial contribution for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, beginning a Vishva Hindu Parishad fundraising campaign in the state for the upcoming shrine, a VHP statement said on Wednesday.

    Mishra gave the donation during a meeting with the VHP’s state functionaries here in the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, the statement said.

    Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Wednesday opened an office here in Mansarovar locality of the city for spearheading the fundraising campaign for the Ayodhya temple.

    The office was inaugurated by RSS national executive member Durga Das, a Hindutva outfit release said.

    During the inauguration of the office, a sum of Rs 30 lakh was raised for the construction of the temple by the contribution of 20 people, it added.

    Das said during the fundraising campaign, about 70 crore people are expected to contribute to the cause.

    He said the Ayodhya’s Ram temple precincts to be built on 108 acres of land will have many major attractions including a museum, satsang auditorium, langar hall, research centre, convention hall and ‘yagyashala’.