News Analysis India

Tag: Rajasthan

  • 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.

  • Married Woman Paraded Naked In Rajasthan Village, Eight Detained |

    New Delhi: A 32-year-old married woman was allegedly paraded naked by a group of around 10 individuals on Friday. The shocking incident was reported from Samdari village in Balotra, Rajasthan. According to police, the attack was motivated by allegations of the woman engaging in an extra-marital affair. 

    Superintendent of Police Kundan Kawaria revealed that the victim was ambushed by the group, believed to be her neighbors, while she was on her way to someplace. The assailants proceeded to assault her before subjecting her to the humiliating act of being paraded semi-naked through the village streets. 

    A video circulating on social media captured the horrifying ordeal, showing several women dragging the victim while others verbally abused her and pulled her hair. One of the perpetrators was heard threatening to inform the woman’s father about her alleged affair with a married man from the village. 

    While eight individuals, including two women, have been detained based on the survivor’s complaint and the circulated video, authorities are working to identify others involved in the incident, including the person who recorded the video, reported PTI. 

    In response, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the supervision of Siwana Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Neeraj Sharma to probe the matter thoroughly. 

    As per reports, the victim is receiving psychological counselling, and authorities are interrogating the detained individuals to ascertain the motive behind the attack. 

  • 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.

  • `Blatant Violation Of Poll Code`: Rajasthan Congress Hits Out At BJP For Making Karanpur Candidate A Minister

    In a likely bid to counter the sympathy factor, the BJP today made Surendra Pal Singh a Minister of State (Independent) in the Bhajan Lal cabinet. 

  • All schemes of previous govt will continue: Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma

    Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday said none of the welfare schemes launched by the previous Congress government in the state will be discontinued. He was speaking at a function organised by the BJP to mark Good Governance Day on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

    Reacting to the allegations by the Congress that his government would discontinue the public welfare schemes launched by the previous government, Sharma said, “Congress people are saying our work, our schemes… I want to tell you that we will not stop any of the schemes”.

    The chief minister said free medicines will continue to be made available at the government hospitals and the number of essential drugs would also be increased. Vajyapee made schemes for the welfare of the poor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the initiative forward, Sharma said.

    BJP stalwart Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924, and died on August 16, 2018.

    Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari and other leaders of the party also paid tributes to Vajpayee on his birth anniversary. The CM also conducted a surprise visit to the state-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital and instructed officials to improve the condition of the facility.

  • ‘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

  • Dalit woman gang-raped in Rajasthan village, 5 booked 

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Three men have been arrested for the gang rape of a 32-year-old Dalit woman in Deedwana Kuchaman district of Rajasthan, police said Monday.

    Didwana Circle Officer Dharam Chand Poonia said though the incident happened in August, a case in the matter was filed only Sunday.

    The case was registered against five people under section 376 (D) (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the SC/ST Act.

    ALSO READ | 16-year-old Dalit girl who was gang-raped, set ablaze in UP’s Pilibhit dies 12 days later

    Kishore Mali, Ramdev Thalod, and Tejpal have been taken into custody, while a hunt is on for the two accused still absconding, Poonia said.

    The victim was presented in a court on Monday where her statement was recorded, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    JAIPUR: Three men have been arrested for the gang rape of a 32-year-old Dalit woman in Deedwana Kuchaman district of Rajasthan, police said Monday.

    Didwana Circle Officer Dharam Chand Poonia said though the incident happened in August, a case in the matter was filed only Sunday.

    The case was registered against five people under section 376 (D) (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the SC/ST Act.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    ALSO READ | 16-year-old Dalit girl who was gang-raped, set ablaze in UP’s Pilibhit dies 12 days later

    Kishore Mali, Ramdev Thalod, and Tejpal have been taken into custody, while a hunt is on for the two accused still absconding, Poonia said.

    The victim was presented in a court on Monday where her statement was recorded, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Five assembly elections: Polling from Nov 7- 30, counting on Dec 3

    By Online Desk

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the schedule for holding assembly elections in five states, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.

    The election in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases – the first stage of voting will be held on November 7. The second phase will be held on November 17. Legislative elections in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17. Legislative elections in Mizoram will be on November 7. Rajasthan will go to polls on November 23 and Telangana on November 30 in a single phase. 

    Counting of votes in all five states will be held on December 3, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced at a press conference.

    The Assembly elections this year are extremely significant as they come just months before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and will reflect the mood of the electorate in the run-up to the general elections.

    Check out the poll schedule for #AssemblyElections2023 of Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, which begins on November 7. The counting is on December 3.READ: https://t.co/eQvzokjbVc pic.twitter.com/KnZF8HdWIn
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) October 9, 2023
    At present, there is a BJP government in Madhya Pradesh led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have Congress governments led by Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel respectively.

    Telangana, on the other hand, has the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao whereas the Mizo National Front (MNF), a BJP ally, is in power in Mizoram. 

    The terms of the legislative assemblies in Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh are set to conclude on various dates in January 2024, while the term of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly will end on December 17 this year.

    SCHEDULE for Legislative Assembly Elections of #MIZORAM, #CHHATTISGARH, #MADHYAPRADESH, #RAJASTHAN & #TELANGANA#ECI #AssemblyElections2023 #MCC #ElectionSchedule pic.twitter.com/BYgfPvA672
    — Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) October 9, 2023
    Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addresses a press conference in Delhi
    We have met all stakeholders, including political parties and enforcement agencies, ahead of five assembly polls: CEC Rajiv Kumar.
    Election Commission has given special emphasis on making electoral rolls inclusive, focus will be on roll-to-poll conversion: CEC Rajiv Kumar.
    Election Seizure Management System being introduced for five assembly polls for enhancing oversight for inducement-free elections: EC.
    940 checkposts in place for strict vigil on interstate borders and to dry up inflow of illicit liquor, cash, freebies and drugs: EC
    Zero tolerance towards use of money power; strict vigil over suspicious online cash transfers through wallets: EC on five assembly polls
    Election Commission to decide on J-K elections at right time, keeping in mind security situation and other elections there: CEC Rajiv Kumar.
    Announcements of freebies always have ‘tadka’ of populism, public has right to know from where freebies will come: CEC Rajiv Kumar.

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the schedule for holding assembly elections in five states, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.

    The election in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases – the first stage of voting will be held on November 7. The second phase will be held on November 17. Legislative elections in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17. Legislative elections in Mizoram will be on November 7. Rajasthan will go to polls on November 23 and Telangana on November 30 in a single phase. 

    Counting of votes in all five states will be held on December 3, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced at a press conference.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Assembly elections this year are extremely significant as they come just months before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and will reflect the mood of the electorate in the run-up to the general elections.

    Check out the poll schedule for #AssemblyElections2023 of Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, which begins on November 7. The counting is on December 3.
    READ: https://t.co/eQvzokjbVc pic.twitter.com/KnZF8HdWIn
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) October 9, 2023
    At present, there is a BJP government in Madhya Pradesh led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have Congress governments led by Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel respectively.

    Telangana, on the other hand, has the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao whereas the Mizo National Front (MNF), a BJP ally, is in power in Mizoram. 

    The terms of the legislative assemblies in Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh are set to conclude on various dates in January 2024, while the term of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly will end on December 17 this year.

    SCHEDULE for Legislative Assembly Elections of #MIZORAM, #CHHATTISGARH, #MADHYAPRADESH, #RAJASTHAN & #TELANGANA#ECI #AssemblyElections2023 #MCC #ElectionSchedule pic.twitter.com/BYgfPvA672
    — Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) October 9, 2023
    Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addresses a press conference in Delhi
    We have met all stakeholders, including political parties and enforcement agencies, ahead of five assembly polls: CEC Rajiv Kumar.
    Election Commission has given special emphasis on making electoral rolls inclusive, focus will be on roll-to-poll conversion: CEC Rajiv Kumar.
    Election Seizure Management System being introduced for five assembly polls for enhancing oversight for inducement-free elections: EC.
    940 checkposts in place for strict vigil on interstate borders and to dry up inflow of illicit liquor, cash, freebies and drugs: EC
    Zero tolerance towards use of money power; strict vigil over suspicious online cash transfers through wallets: EC on five assembly polls
    Election Commission to decide on J-K elections at right time, keeping in mind security situation and other elections there: CEC Rajiv Kumar.
    Announcements of freebies always have ‘tadka’ of populism, public has right to know from where freebies will come: CEC Rajiv Kumar.

  • Rajasthan: Three people go missing after being swept away in Parvati river 

    By PTI

    KOTA: Three people went missing after being swept away in the Parvati river near Kishanpura village in Rajasthan’s Kota district, police said on Sunday.

    The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when the three people were taking a bath in the river’s overflowing water and catching fish, they said.

    Three persons — identified as Rahul Gujarati (23), Banti Jatav (42) and Babulal (45) — all residents of Gandhi Colony under the Baran Sadar police station area were swept away in deep water in the Parvati river on Saturday afternoon while they were bathing and catching fish, said SHO Ramvilas.

    The river’s water level reportedly suddenly began rising and the three persons, along with two others named Kishan and Neelu, were swept away by the strong current of the water, he added.

    The SHO said Kishan and Neelu somehow managed to reach the shore while the three others went missing.

    The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and civil defence teams began the search operation soon after the incident but the three missing have not yet been traced, he added.

    KOTA: Three people went missing after being swept away in the Parvati river near Kishanpura village in Rajasthan’s Kota district, police said on Sunday.

    The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when the three people were taking a bath in the river’s overflowing water and catching fish, they said.

    Three persons — identified as Rahul Gujarati (23), Banti Jatav (42) and Babulal (45) — all residents of Gandhi Colony under the Baran Sadar police station area were swept away in deep water in the Parvati river on Saturday afternoon while they were bathing and catching fish, said SHO Ramvilas.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The river’s water level reportedly suddenly began rising and the three persons, along with two others named Kishan and Neelu, were swept away by the strong current of the water, he added.

    The SHO said Kishan and Neelu somehow managed to reach the shore while the three others went missing.

    The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and civil defence teams began the search operation soon after the incident but the three missing have not yet been traced, he added.