News Analysis India

Tag: Rajasthan Government

  • Five Rajasthan government officials fined for ignoring pleas under transparency law

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Information Commission has fined five government officials for ignoring applications under the transparency law in five separate cases.

    While two officials of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department were imposed fines of Rs 10,000 each in two separate cases, three others have been fined Rs 5,000 each, the Commission said in a statement.

    The Commission imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the Hanumangarh Zila Parishad’s chief executive officer for ignoring an RTI application for two-and-a-half years.

    The commission imposed the fine on the officer after he neither appeared before it nor filed his reply despite being given an opportunity to have his say in the proceeding.

    Similarly, a fine of Rs 10,000 was imposed on the Khajuwala development officer in Bikaner district on an appeal by the complainant alleging that he was not being informed of various development work in the area.

    Even after a lapse of more than two years, the officer did not bother to provide information, the complainant said in his appeal to the Commission.

    The three other officials who were fined Rs 5,000 each in as many cases, included Chittorgarh’s chief medical and health officer, Banswara’s district transport officer and a chief block education Officer in Ganganagar district.

    The commission has also ordered that the penalty amount be recovered from the salaries of erring officers.

  • Rajasthan cabinet to have 12 new faces, five from Sachin Pilot camp: Sources

    The Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government will have a total of 30 ministers, including 18 who resigned earlier.

  • Rajasthan cabinet to have 12 new faces, five to six loyalists from Sachin Pilot camp

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: In what could end the tussle between Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his rival Sachin Pilot, at least for now, the much delayed cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place on Sunday evening with at least five to six Pilot loyalists finding a berth in the ministry. There can be a maximum of 30 ministers.

    Gehlot held a cabinet meeting on Saturday evening and took the resignations of all his ministers, paving the way for the CM and the Congress high command to reorganize the ministry in the way they deem fit.

    The meeting was preceded by a resolution moved by state PCC chief and education minister Govind Dotasra, which suggested that all ministers should resign. This was promptly approved by the entire ministry.

    Talking to media after the meeting, transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said: “We have submitted our resignations to Ashok Gehlot and all the MLAs have been asked to be present at the party office at 2 pm on Sunday. Whatever will be decided by the CM and the party high command will be followed.”

    Earlier in the afternoon, Dotasra met Rajasthan in-charge Ajay Maken following which he said all the new ministers would be welcomed at a special function at the party headquarters before the oath-taking ceremony.

    All through Saturday, the political corridors were abuzz over who would make it to the all-new Gehlot ministry.

    Whether Pilot will figure in the reshuffle is a question on everyone’s lips but hectic lobbying continued through the day. Asked who would be inducted in the new ministry, Gehlot told reporters in the afternoon that “for this Ajay Maken is in contact with Delhi”.

    In a bid to dislodge Gehlot last year, Pilot had revolted against the CM, leading a group of MLAs loyal to him and demanded a change of leadership in the state. Gehlot had managed to stave off the rebellion and remained in the saddle. 

    Besides the two rival camps, the independents and former BSP MLAs who played a crucial role in keeping the Gehlot government safe during Pilot’s revolt is another key aspect that is being closely watched in the state.

  • All Rajasthan ministers resign ahead of Cabinet reshuffle

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: All Rajasthan ministers resigned on Saturday during a meeting at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s residence here.

    Their resignation has come ahead of the Cabinet reshuffle.

    “All ministers resigned in the meeting,” Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, who held the charge of the transport minister, told reporters.

    State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, who on Friday resigned as education minister along with two other ministers, had moved a proposal at the beginning of the meeting following which all ministers resigned.

    “We have been asked to go to the PCC office at 2 pm on Sunday where further instructions will be given by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, AICC general secretary Ajay Maken and PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra,” Khachariyawas said.

  • Decisions on Rajasthan government, organisation soon: Pilot

    Pilot also accused the Centre of collecting Rs 20 lakh crore through cess on petrol and diesel, giving no relief to people even after the price of crude in the international market “halved.”

  • Rajasthan government to bring ordinance to strengthen law against recruitment exam malpractices: Ashok Gehlot

    Ashok Gehlot said strict action should be taken against those found involved in irregularities in all future recruitment examinations.

  • CM Ashok Gehlot to recall Rajasthan bill on registration of child marriage

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: In a major u-turn, the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan is in the process of withdrawing the controversial bill containing the provision related to the registration of child marriages. The Compulsory Registration of Marriages (Amendment) Bill was passed in the state Assembly last month and provides for the registration of child marriages also. After the controversy, this bill has been put on hold by the Governor. 

    In less than a month, the government has decided to recall the recently passed marriage registration bill to re-examine it, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, citing concerns that its provisions will encourage child marriages. Gehlot said that the state government will urge the governor to return the bill for legal consultations.

    “There has been a controversy that this law will encourage child marriage. We decided it was not a question of our prestige. We will request the governor to return the bill we have passed; we’ve also taken legal opinion on this. Next legal opinion will be taken If the opinion comes unfavourable, we will not promote it,” Gehlot said on International Girl Child Day.

    BJP as well as human rights activists had objected to the clause in the ‘Rajasthan Compulsory Marriage Registration (Amendment) Bill 2021’ that allowed registration of marriage even if the bride and groom had not attained the legal age.

  • ‘Not a question of our prestige’: Rajasthan govt to recall controversial marriage registration bill

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government has decided to recall the recently passed marriage registration bill to re-examine it, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Monday, citing concerns that its provisions will encourage child marriages.

    Gehlot said that the state government will urge the governor to return the bill for legal consultations.

    The opposition BJP and rights activists had objected to a provision in the ‘Rajasthan Compulsory Marriage Registration (Amendment) Bill 2021’ that allowed registration of marriage even if the bride and the groom had not attained the legal age to tie the knot.

    “There has been a controversy in the country that this law will encourage child marriage. We decided that it was not a question of our prestige. We will request the governor to return the bill we have passed,” Gehlot said addressing a programme on International Girl Child Day.

    “After legal consultation from lawyers, it will be considered whether to take the Bill forward or not,” he said.

    Gehlot said that it is the government’s resolve that child marriages do not occur at any cost in Rajasthan.

    ALSO READ | Child marriage kills more than 60 girls a day globally and 6 girls daily in South Asia: Report

    “I want to assure you that I will not compromise on that. We will get it re-examined and if we consider it necessary then we will take it forward or else we will not take it forward. We have no problem,” the chief minister said.

    Despite a ban on child marriages, the state has been reporting such cases over the years.

    Gehlot said that the Supreme Court had made it necessary to register every marriage after which the Bill was introduced and passed.

    He said that legal opinion was taken earlier and the government will take it further also so that child marriages never happen in Rajasthan.

    “The Supreme Court stated that marriage should be registered, be it of anyone.

    In view of this, a bill was passed in the assembly, but a controversy erupted that this law will encourage child marriage,” he said.

    The Bill was passed in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on September 17 amid objections from opposition BJP MLAs who walked out of the assembly.

    State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal had said in the Assembly that the proposed legislation allows registration of marriages but does not state anywhere that these marriages will eventually become valid.

    If it is indeed a child marriage, the collector of the particular district and the officers concerned will be able to take necessary action against the families, the minister had pointed out.

    The statement and objective of the amendment bill say that if the couple has not completed the legal age of marriage, the parents or guardians shall be responsible for submitting a memorandum within a prescribed period.

    Dhariwal said even the couple can get their marriage registered, provided that they inform their families within 30 days.

  • Why is Congress high command silent over killing of Dalit man in Rajasthan, asks Mayawati

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday termed as “condemnable” a Dalit person being beaten to death in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh, and questioned the silence of the Congress.In a series of tweets in Hindi, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, “A Dalit was beaten to death in Rajasthan”s Hanumangarh. This is very sad and condemnable, but why is the Congress high command silent over it.”

    A Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death on October 7 by a group of men in Hanumangarh over his love affair, the Rajasthan police said. Three people have been detained in connection with the case on Saturday.

    Mayawati said, “Will the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Punjab go there and give Rs 50 lakh to the victim”s family? The BSP demands an answer, otherwise it should stop shedding crocodile tears in the name of the Dalits.”

    On the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, she tweeted, “The cropping up of the name of the son of the Union minister in the Lakhimpur violence raises questions on the working style of the BJP government.”

    The BJP should sack the minister as only then will there be any hope of justice for the aggrieved farmers, she added.

    Mayawati also said terrorists are killing innocent people almost everyday in Jammu and Kashmir, which is very sad and shameful. The BSP demands that the Centre should take some strong steps in this regard, the party chief added. 

  • Congress govt in Rajasthan will complete five-year tenure: CM Ashok Gehlot 

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Amid internal rumblings in the Punjab and Chhattisgarh Congress, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said his government will complete its full five-year tenure.

    Gehlot also exuded confidence that he would again come back to power after the next assembly elections and reflecting his aspiration to become the Rajasthan CM for a fourth term too, he added that he would allocate the Urban Development and Housing Department again to Shanti Dhariwal for the fourth time.

    Speaking at a programme at his residence here to launch the ‘Prashasan Shaharon Ke Sang’ and ‘Prashasan’ Gaon Ke Sang’ campaign, Gehlot said there was speculation doing the rounds about Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh after Punjab.

    “The Congress government in Rajasthan will not only complete its five-year tenure but will again come back to power in the next assembly elections in the state,” he said.

    He added that he would again allocate the Urban Development and Housing Ministry to Shanti Dhariwal for a fourth time as he has worked hard to make the campaign, launched today, successful.

    In Rajasthan, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and Gehlot have been locked in a leadership tussle.

    In Chhattisgarh, after Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel completed his two-and-a-half-year tenure in June, the T S Singhdeo camp claimed that the Congress leadership in 2018 had agreed to give the post to him after the government completed half its term.

    The Cabinet reshuffle and political appointments are also pending for long in Rajasthan and the Pilot camp MLAs have been demanding from the party high command to fulfil the promises made to him last year.

    Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs had revolted against the leadership of chief minister Gehlot in July last year with the political uncertainties in the state existing for over one month.

    During Saturday’s programme, Gehlot, who underwent angioplasty in August, also said he is not going anywhere for the next 15-20 years.

    He said after the blockage in his heart artery, treatment was done.

    “The prayers of the people of the entire state helped me. Nothing is going to happen to me, nothing will happen for 15-20 years, if someone wants to be unhappy, it’s their problem,” he said.

    The chief minister claimed the ground level feedback reveals that there is no anti-incumbency in Rajasthan.

    “This is what people are saying. We have not left any stone unturned in doing the work but (we) don’t know what will happen next, but the mood of the public is of making us come back,” said the CM.

    In a light vein, he took a jibe at the bureaucracy saying bureaucrats are the first to worry if the government will stay in power or not and the first discussions on the issue start in the secretariat.

    He reiterated that the government will not only run for five years but come back to power also after the next elections.

    On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Gehlot said after 60 years, the BJP adopted Mahatma Gandhi for political interests.

    If they adopt Gandhi’s ideas as well, many problems will be solved, he added.

    “On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, I would like to say to (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat, (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah from the bottom of my heart that if you have adopted Gandhi, the sense of truth, non-violence and secularism too should be there in your hearts,” he said.

    Gehlot also accused a section of the media of reporting in a biased manner.

    Witing against the Congress and creating stories against its chief ministers are the compulsions of a section of the media, he claimed.

    Rajasthan PCC president and Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra, Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Revenue Minister Harish Choudhary besides several other ministers, MLAs and senior officers too attended the programme.