News Analysis India

Tag: Rajasthan

  • Fatal collision: School principal, student killed as bus rams into stationary truck in Rajasthan’s Barmer

    By ANI

    BARMER: A government school principal and a girl student were killed after a bus they were travelling in with 27 others rammed into a dumper parked on the roadside in Rajasthan’s Barmer district on Saturday night, police said. 

    The deceased school principal has been identified as Mohammad Ibrahim, while the girl student as Savina. This tragic incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. near Sehlau village. 

    According to officials, the passengers on board included 24 girl students from Swami Vivekananda Government Model School in Detani and four others, including the school principal and three teachers. 

    “They were returning after a victorious tournament organised in Raniwara,” they said. 

    Officials said that the bus driver couldn’t see a dumper truck that was parked on the side of Bharat Mala Road near Sehlau village and ended up ramming into it. 

    “The exact reason behind the accident is, however, not clear,” they said. 

    Police said that the truck was parked with its parking lights switched off, which led to the bus driver not noticing the vehicle, resulting in a collision. The accident was so severe that the conductor’s side of the bus sustained extensive damage, and the school principal, who was seated there, died on the spot. 

    Local residents in the area heard the sound of the crash and rushed to the scene, calling for an ambulance. 

    Upon receiving information, a police team also arrived at the scene and, with the assistance of the villagers, shifted those injured in the accident to the hospital. 

    “20 of them were seriously injured and taken to Chauhatan Hospital, while nine others have been sent to Gagariya Hospital,” they said. 

    While the school principal died on the spot, and the girl student died during treatment. 

    “Students whose condition is critical have been referred to Jodhpur for treatment,” ADM Anjum Tahir Samma said.

    BARMER: A government school principal and a girl student were killed after a bus they were travelling in with 27 others rammed into a dumper parked on the roadside in Rajasthan’s Barmer district on Saturday night, police said. 

    The deceased school principal has been identified as Mohammad Ibrahim, while the girl student as Savina. This tragic incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. near Sehlau village. 

    According to officials, the passengers on board included 24 girl students from Swami Vivekananda Government Model School in Detani and four others, including the school principal and three teachers. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “They were returning after a victorious tournament organised in Raniwara,” they said. 

    Officials said that the bus driver couldn’t see a dumper truck that was parked on the side of Bharat Mala Road near Sehlau village and ended up ramming into it. 

    “The exact reason behind the accident is, however, not clear,” they said. 

    Police said that the truck was parked with its parking lights switched off, which led to the bus driver not noticing the vehicle, resulting in a collision. The accident was so severe that the conductor’s side of the bus sustained extensive damage, and the school principal, who was seated there, died on the spot. 

    Local residents in the area heard the sound of the crash and rushed to the scene, calling for an ambulance. 

    Upon receiving information, a police team also arrived at the scene and, with the assistance of the villagers, shifted those injured in the accident to the hospital. 

    “20 of them were seriously injured and taken to Chauhatan Hospital, while nine others have been sent to Gagariya Hospital,” they said. 

    While the school principal died on the spot, and the girl student died during treatment. 

    “Students whose condition is critical have been referred to Jodhpur for treatment,” ADM Anjum Tahir Samma said.

  • ‘New Kumbhalgarh tiger reserve in Rajasthan to displace indigenous tribes’

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The ‘in-principal’ approval given to declare the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS)  in Rajasthan as a tiger reserve has triggered a controversy.

    The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the fringes of the Aravalli mountain range and is home to indigenous tribes like Bhil, Garasia and the nomadic Raika pastoralists, who are against the idea of declaring it as a tiger reserve as they fear displacement. Moreover, there is no documented history of the tiger population in the Kumbhalgarh forest.

    India’s apex tiger conservation body, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), has declared two more tiger reserves in Rajasthan. It has taken the total tally of the country’s tiger reserve to 55. It gave final approval to Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve, besides the ‘in-principal’ approval to KWS as a tiger reserve. 

    “It is a big day in the tiger conservation efforts in Rajasthan’s history,” Shikhar Agarwal, additional chief secretary of the department of environment, forest and climate change, told this newspaper.   

    He said that the ‘in-principal’ approval of the Kumbhalgarh tiger reserve means that a committee will soon be formed and assess the requirements of the reserve to make it suitable for the wild cats. Union minister of environment, forest and climate change Bhupendra Yadav has also appreciated the move to declare KWS as a tiger reserve.

    In a social media post, Yadav said that it will boost employment opportunities for the region’s people through ecotourism.

    However, experts say that there is no documented history of the presence of tigers in Kumbhalgarh.“How can we have a tiger reserve where no tigers exist and there are no connectivity corridors to other tiger reserves?” said Meenal Tatpati, a forest rights lawyer who prepared a report on the violation of laws and processes in experimenting with the tiger conservation model in KWS. 

    “It would be detrimental in terms of tribal displacement and loss of the community’s livelihood,” she said. “Last year, they passed a village council resolution against the idea of declaring the forest as a tiger reserve and submitted a memorandum to the Rajasthan chief minister, environment and forest minister and district collector,” said Jagdish Paliwal, a local activist working with these communities. 

    KWS is known for Indian wolves, four-horned antelope and leopards, but has never been part of any tiger corridor. The forest supports farms and livestock of 162 villages located inside and outside KWS.    

    Incidentally, Diya Kumari, Member of Parliament from Rajsamand, belongs to Kumbhalgarh region.

    She is also a member of NTCA and has been pushing the case of declaring the Kumbhalgarh forest as a tiger reserve to create employment opportunities through ecotourism.  

    ‘No tigers at kumbhalgarh’

    List of Tiger reserves in Rajasthan

      Mukandra Hills Tiger Reserve
      Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve 
      Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
      Sariska Tiger Reserve
    Newly approved

      Dhoulpur-Karauli tiger reserve 
      Kumbhalgarh tiger reserve (in-principal approval)
    Controversy around Kumbhalgarh

      Home to indigenous people: Bhil, Garasia, Raika pastoralists
      Threat to displacement of 20 tribal villages located inside KWS
      Not much prey to support tiger population
      No recent documented history of the presence of tigers
      Two roads pass through, which may cause human-wildlife conflict

    NEW DELHI: The ‘in-principal’ approval given to declare the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS)  in Rajasthan as a tiger reserve has triggered a controversy.

    The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the fringes of the Aravalli mountain range and is home to indigenous tribes like Bhil, Garasia and the nomadic Raika pastoralists, who are against the idea of declaring it as a tiger reserve as they fear displacement. Moreover, there is no documented history of the tiger population in the Kumbhalgarh forest.

    India’s apex tiger conservation body, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), has declared two more tiger reserves in Rajasthan. It has taken the total tally of the country’s tiger reserve to 55. It gave final approval to Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve, besides the ‘in-principal’ approval to KWS as a tiger reserve. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “It is a big day in the tiger conservation efforts in Rajasthan’s history,” Shikhar Agarwal, additional chief secretary of the department of environment, forest and climate change, told this newspaper.   

    He said that the ‘in-principal’ approval of the Kumbhalgarh tiger reserve means that a committee will soon be formed and assess the requirements of the reserve to make it suitable for the wild cats. Union minister of environment, forest and climate change Bhupendra Yadav has also appreciated the move to declare KWS as a tiger reserve.

    In a social media post, Yadav said that it will boost employment opportunities for the region’s people through ecotourism.

    However, experts say that there is no documented history of the presence of tigers in Kumbhalgarh.
    “How can we have a tiger reserve where no tigers exist and there are no connectivity corridors to other tiger reserves?” said Meenal Tatpati, a forest rights lawyer who prepared a report on the violation of laws and processes in experimenting with the tiger conservation model in KWS. 

    “It would be detrimental in terms of tribal displacement and loss of the community’s livelihood,” she said. “Last year, they passed a village council resolution against the idea of declaring the forest as a tiger reserve and submitted a memorandum to the Rajasthan chief minister, environment and forest minister and district collector,” said Jagdish Paliwal, a local activist working with these communities. 

    KWS is known for Indian wolves, four-horned antelope and leopards, but has never been part of any tiger corridor. The forest supports farms and livestock of 162 villages located inside and outside KWS.    

    Incidentally, Diya Kumari, Member of Parliament from Rajsamand, belongs to Kumbhalgarh region.

    She is also a member of NTCA and has been pushing the case of declaring the Kumbhalgarh forest as a tiger reserve to create employment opportunities through ecotourism.  

    ‘No tigers at kumbhalgarh’

    List of Tiger reserves in Rajasthan

      Mukandra Hills Tiger Reserve
      Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve 
      Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
      Sariska Tiger Reserve
    Newly approved

      Dhoulpur-Karauli tiger reserve 
      Kumbhalgarh tiger reserve (in-principal approval)
    Controversy around Kumbhalgarh

      Home to indigenous people: Bhil, Garasia, Raika pastoralists
      Threat to displacement of 20 tribal villages located inside KWS
      Not much prey to support tiger population
      No recent documented history of the presence of tigers
      Two roads pass through, which may cause human-wildlife conflict

  • Rajasthan: ‘Molesters will not get government jobs in State’, says CM Ashok Gehlot

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, habitual eve-teasers and molesters will now be debarred from getting government jobs, said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

    Aiming to bolster the safety and security of women and girls in the state, the Chief Minister on Tuesday announced those involved in eve-teasing or molestation of women and girls will be ineligible for government jobs. 

    During a crucial law and order meeting held late on Tuesday night, CM Gehlot expressed his unwavering determination to prioritise the well-being of women and girls. He directed the officials to take stringent actions against habitual miscreants and molesters.

    Under this special move, the Gehlot government has ordered that character certificates of the men who get involved in eve teasing will have a special mention of this. As part of the new measures, character certificates of individuals caught eve-teasing or molesting women will explicitly mention their offence. Furthermore, the names of these offenders will be forwarded to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and the Staff Selection Board. 

    The government has asked the police department to keep a detailed record of such men and records of those convicted in eve teasing will be sent to RPSC and the employees selection board. This proactive approach will ensure that such individuals are barred from future government job opportunities, as their applications will be rejected if they match the existing database.

    CM Gehlot said,” Checking crime against women and crime against those who come under the vulnerable section of the society is our government’s top priority. We will ensure permanent cure of all problems that eve-teasers and molesters create in the state.”

    He said a special operation will be initiated with policemen deployed in schools, colleges, and markets to monitor crime against women and girls. The places with higher rates of complaints regarding misbehaviour will receive special attention, and monitoring will be intensified through fixed points in these areas.

    In addition to this, Gehlot has directed the officials to take strict action against the bars and nightclubs which open beyond the stipulated time. Along with the managers of these clubs, the responsibility of the owners will also be fixed. He said that action will be taken to cancel the license of such clubs for violating the rules.

    With these new directives in place, Rajasthan is taking a progressive stance in safeguarding the dignity and well-being of women and girls, while ensuring that offenders face appropriate consequences for their actions. 

    Ahead of the assembly elections, the Gehlot government has been under a lot of pressure over the law and order situation in general and about rising crimes against women in the state. Rajasthan currently has the highest number of crimes against women in the country.

    JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, habitual eve-teasers and molesters will now be debarred from getting government jobs, said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

    Aiming to bolster the safety and security of women and girls in the state, the Chief Minister on Tuesday announced those involved in eve-teasing or molestation of women and girls will be ineligible for government jobs. 

    During a crucial law and order meeting held late on Tuesday night, CM Gehlot expressed his unwavering determination to prioritise the well-being of women and girls. He directed the officials to take stringent actions against habitual miscreants and molesters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Under this special move, the Gehlot government has ordered that character certificates of the men who get involved in eve teasing will have a special mention of this. As part of the new measures, character certificates of individuals caught eve-teasing or molesting women will explicitly mention their offence. Furthermore, the names of these offenders will be forwarded to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and the Staff Selection Board. 

    The government has asked the police department to keep a detailed record of such men and records of those convicted in eve teasing will be sent to RPSC and the employees selection board. This proactive approach will ensure that such individuals are barred from future government job opportunities, as their applications will be rejected if they match the existing database.

    CM Gehlot said,” Checking crime against women and crime against those who come under the vulnerable section of the society is our government’s top priority. We will ensure permanent cure of all problems that eve-teasers and molesters create in the state.”

    He said a special operation will be initiated with policemen deployed in schools, colleges, and markets to monitor crime against women and girls. The places with higher rates of complaints regarding misbehaviour will receive special attention, and monitoring will be intensified through fixed points in these areas.

    In addition to this, Gehlot has directed the officials to take strict action against the bars and nightclubs which open beyond the stipulated time. Along with the managers of these clubs, the responsibility of the owners will also be fixed. He said that action will be taken to cancel the license of such clubs for violating the rules.

    With these new directives in place, Rajasthan is taking a progressive stance in safeguarding the dignity and well-being of women and girls, while ensuring that offenders face appropriate consequences for their actions. 

    Ahead of the assembly elections, the Gehlot government has been under a lot of pressure over the law and order situation in general and about rising crimes against women in the state. Rajasthan currently has the highest number of crimes against women in the country.

  • Rajasthan CM Gehlot’s sacking of cabinet minister sparks a political row in poll-bound state

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: The dismissal of Rajasthan cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Gudha by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has ignited a huge controversy over the issue of women’s safety in the state.

    Gudha was dismissed on Friday after he questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    Following his dismissal, CM Gehlot held a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday but refrained from clarifying the reasons behind the minister’s removal.

    However, he staunchly defended his government’s record on law and order, particularly addressing the allegations of crimes against women. Gehlot said that comparing the situation in Rajasthan with that of Manipur, as alleged, is “unjustifiable.”

    When asked about the continuous criticism and protests against the government by Rajendra Gudha, who had been vocal about various issues, including law and order, CM Gehlot responded that this matter pertains to the party’s internal affairs and will be addressed after discussions within the party.

    It appears that the former minister had been challenging CM Gehlot’s government for several months, making provocative statements. However, his recent remarks during the assembly session seem to have triggered his dismissal from the government.

    Rajendra Gudha is among the six former BSP MLAs who switched to Congress in 2020. Though he was earlier in the Gehlot group, in the past year or so he had moved into the Sachin Pilot camp.

    Given his provocative remarks in the last few months, many believe that his recent actions indicate a desire to leave Congress before the upcoming elections. Notably, Rajendra Gudha’s repeated statements had been causing discomfort for the Ashok Gehlot government.

    However, experts also opine that Gudha himself may have orchestrated this situation to distance himself from the Gehlot government.

    Having contested three elections so far, Rajendra Gudha won two on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. Despite his victories, he joined the Congress along with other BSP MLAs on both occasions and held ministerial positions.

    Considering the caste and political dynamics of Gudha’s assembly seat, Udaipurwati, the former minister and his supporters are said to believe that it might be more suitable for him to contest elections with a third force rather than representing the Congress or BJP. His recent opposition to the Gehlot government just ahead of the elections indicates this possibility.

    Given that Gudha left the BSP after winning elections twice on their ticket, it might be challenging for the party to trust him for a third time.

    Consequently, he also held a meeting with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and there are speculations that he might contest the upcoming election from Owaisi’s party. Alternatively, he could consider running as an independent candidate. However, his immediate aim is to be expelled from the Congress.

    All eyes are now focused on what Gudha’s next course of action will be. It is likely that when Gudha addresses the Assembly on Monday, he will say something that leads to his expulsion from the party.

    JAIPUR: The dismissal of Rajasthan cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Gudha by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has ignited a huge controversy over the issue of women’s safety in the state.

    Gudha was dismissed on Friday after he questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    Following his dismissal, CM Gehlot held a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday but refrained from clarifying the reasons behind the minister’s removal.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    However, he staunchly defended his government’s record on law and order, particularly addressing the allegations of crimes against women. Gehlot said that comparing the situation in Rajasthan with that of Manipur, as alleged, is “unjustifiable.”

    When asked about the continuous criticism and protests against the government by Rajendra Gudha, who had been vocal about various issues, including law and order, CM Gehlot responded that this matter pertains to the party’s internal affairs and will be addressed after discussions within the party.

    It appears that the former minister had been challenging CM Gehlot’s government for several months, making provocative statements. However, his recent remarks during the assembly session seem to have triggered his dismissal from the government.

    Rajendra Gudha is among the six former BSP MLAs who switched to Congress in 2020. Though he was earlier in the Gehlot group, in the past year or so he had moved into the Sachin Pilot camp.

    Given his provocative remarks in the last few months, many believe that his recent actions indicate a desire to leave Congress before the upcoming elections. Notably, Rajendra Gudha’s repeated statements had been causing discomfort for the Ashok Gehlot government.

    However, experts also opine that Gudha himself may have orchestrated this situation to distance himself from the Gehlot government.

    Having contested three elections so far, Rajendra Gudha won two on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. Despite his victories, he joined the Congress along with other BSP MLAs on both occasions and held ministerial positions.

    Considering the caste and political dynamics of Gudha’s assembly seat, Udaipurwati, the former minister and his supporters are said to believe that it might be more suitable for him to contest elections with a third force rather than representing the Congress or BJP. His recent opposition to the Gehlot government just ahead of the elections indicates this possibility.

    Given that Gudha left the BSP after winning elections twice on their ticket, it might be challenging for the party to trust him for a third time.

    Consequently, he also held a meeting with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and there are speculations that he might contest the upcoming election from Owaisi’s party. Alternatively, he could consider running as an independent candidate. However, his immediate aim is to be expelled from the Congress.

    All eyes are now focused on what Gudha’s next course of action will be. It is likely that when Gudha addresses the Assembly on Monday, he will say something that leads to his expulsion from the party.

  • Rajasthan CM Gehlot sacks state minister Rajendra Gudha for his remarks on law and order

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday sacked Rajendra Gudha as minister of state, hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly.

    Gudha held charge as Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.

    A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said, “Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended Governor Kalraj Mishra to dismiss a member of the council of ministers Rajendra Gudha in the evening. The governor has accepted this recommendation with immediate effect.”

    Gudha on Friday questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    During the discussion on the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guaranteed Bill, 2023, in the Assembly, Congress MLAs waved placards on the Manipur violence.

    The protest, however, did not go down well with Gudha, who sought accountability from his own government on crimes against women.

    “The way we have failed to provide security to women in Rajasthan and atrocities on women have increased, instead of raising the issue of Manipur, we should introspect,” Gudha said in the assembly.

    Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore latched onto Gudha’s statement and slammed the state government, saying Rajasthan tops the chart for crimes against women.

    Rathore later asked Gehlot, who is also the home minister, to take responsibility for the “poor” state of law and order in Rajasthan.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal responded to the charges, saying that the state government has supplied the House with the statistics that show that the maximum number of atrocities were committed on women during BJP rule.

    Hours later, after a green signal from the party’s high command, Gehlot sent a recommendation to the governor to sack Gudha.

    Following his sacking, Gudha told reporters that he was punished for speaking the truth. “Rajasthan is at the number one position in crimes against women. What did I say? I got the punishment for speaking the truth,” he said.

    BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Meena sided with Gudha and said he spoke the truth in the assembly.

    “Law and order in Rajasthan has deteriorated and crimes against women have increased multifold. The minister had expressed what is true,” he said.

    Gudha, who is among six MLAs who won the 2018 assembly elections on a BSP ticket before defecting to the Congress in September 2019, was inducted as a minister in November 2021. He represents Jhunjhunu’s Udaipurwati constituency.

    Gudha and other MLAs who won on a BSP ticket had supported Gehlot in July 2020, during his tussle with his then-deputy Sachin Pilot, which had led to a political crisis.

    However, in the last few months, Gudha has made statements in favour of Pilot. He has also caused embarrassment to the Congress-led government with his recent statements.

    In a widely circulated video a few days ago, he was heard saying that Gehlot and Pilot were running after him, so there must be some quality in him.

    Gudha also launched a scathing attack on the Congress government and alleged that the dispensation had surpassed Karnataka’s “40 per cent commission BJP government” in corruption.

    While addressing a rally in support of Pilot in May, Gudha said, “Hamari sarkar ka alignment kharab ho gaya (our government’s alignment has been disturbed). The record of corruption has been broken. There was an issue of 40 per cent corruption in Karnataka. Our government has surpassed it,” he had said.

    He also met AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi during his recent visit to the state.

    Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the second day in a row on Friday following vociferous protests over the Manipur violence by opposition MPs.

    The Monsoon session started on Thursday, a day after a horrific video of two women being sexually assaulted and paraded by a mob on May 4 in a Manipur village went viral.

    ‘Sacked for telling the truth’

    The BJP on Friday accused Gehlot of sacking Gudha for telling the truth and added that “it shows how serious the ruling Congress is about the issue of crimes against women.”

    Reacting to the minister’s sacking, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said in a tweet in Hindi that Gehlot removed Gudha from his cabinet for telling “the truth.”

    “This shows how serious Congress is about harassment of women,” the BJP leader charged.

    Senior BJP leader and Union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat also targeted the Rajasthan chief minister and said in a tweet in Hindi, “Telling the truth is forbidden in Gehlot’s regime.”

    “The chief minister does not have the courage to accept the truth. When his minister Rajendra Gudha ji told the truth in the assembly, Gehlot ji felt so bad that he removed him from the post itself,” Shekhawat said. With this, Gehlot has warned his colleagues if they speak the truth, they will not be spared, the Union minister charged. “Intimidating one’s own comrades, gagging them will also be called oppression,” he added.

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday sacked Rajendra Gudha as minister of state, hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly.

    Gudha held charge as Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.

    A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said, “Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended Governor Kalraj Mishra to dismiss a member of the council of ministers Rajendra Gudha in the evening. The governor has accepted this recommendation with immediate effect.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Gudha on Friday questioned his own government’s performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence.

    During the discussion on the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guaranteed Bill, 2023, in the Assembly, Congress MLAs waved placards on the Manipur violence.

    The protest, however, did not go down well with Gudha, who sought accountability from his own government on crimes against women.

    “The way we have failed to provide security to women in Rajasthan and atrocities on women have increased, instead of raising the issue of Manipur, we should introspect,” Gudha said in the assembly.

    Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore latched onto Gudha’s statement and slammed the state government, saying Rajasthan tops the chart for crimes against women.

    Rathore later asked Gehlot, who is also the home minister, to take responsibility for the “poor” state of law and order in Rajasthan.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal responded to the charges, saying that the state government has supplied the House with the statistics that show that the maximum number of atrocities were committed on women during BJP rule.

    Hours later, after a green signal from the party’s high command, Gehlot sent a recommendation to the governor to sack Gudha.

    Following his sacking, Gudha told reporters that he was punished for speaking the truth. “Rajasthan is at the number one position in crimes against women. What did I say? I got the punishment for speaking the truth,” he said.

    BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Meena sided with Gudha and said he spoke the truth in the assembly.

    “Law and order in Rajasthan has deteriorated and crimes against women have increased multifold. The minister had expressed what is true,” he said.

    Gudha, who is among six MLAs who won the 2018 assembly elections on a BSP ticket before defecting to the Congress in September 2019, was inducted as a minister in November 2021. He represents Jhunjhunu’s Udaipurwati constituency.

    Gudha and other MLAs who won on a BSP ticket had supported Gehlot in July 2020, during his tussle with his then-deputy Sachin Pilot, which had led to a political crisis.

    However, in the last few months, Gudha has made statements in favour of Pilot. He has also caused embarrassment to the Congress-led government with his recent statements.

    In a widely circulated video a few days ago, he was heard saying that Gehlot and Pilot were running after him, so there must be some quality in him.

    Gudha also launched a scathing attack on the Congress government and alleged that the dispensation had surpassed Karnataka’s “40 per cent commission BJP government” in corruption.

    While addressing a rally in support of Pilot in May, Gudha said, “Hamari sarkar ka alignment kharab ho gaya (our government’s alignment has been disturbed). The record of corruption has been broken. There was an issue of 40 per cent corruption in Karnataka. Our government has surpassed it,” he had said.

    He also met AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi during his recent visit to the state.

    Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the second day in a row on Friday following vociferous protests over the Manipur violence by opposition MPs.

    The Monsoon session started on Thursday, a day after a horrific video of two women being sexually assaulted and paraded by a mob on May 4 in a Manipur village went viral.

    ‘Sacked for telling the truth’

    The BJP on Friday accused Gehlot of sacking Gudha for telling the truth and added that “it shows how serious the ruling Congress is about the issue of crimes against women.”

    Reacting to the minister’s sacking, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said in a tweet in Hindi that Gehlot removed Gudha from his cabinet for telling “the truth.”

    “This shows how serious Congress is about harassment of women,” the BJP leader charged.

    Senior BJP leader and Union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat also targeted the Rajasthan chief minister and said in a tweet in Hindi, “Telling the truth is forbidden in Gehlot’s regime.”

    “The chief minister does not have the courage to accept the truth. When his minister Rajendra Gudha ji told the truth in the assembly, Gehlot ji felt so bad that he removed him from the post itself,” Shekhawat said. With this, Gehlot has warned his colleagues if they speak the truth, they will not be spared, the Union minister charged. “Intimidating one’s own comrades, gagging them will also be called oppression,” he added.

  • Lesbian love story involving schoolgirl, teacher sparks tensions in Rajasthan’s Bikaner

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: In a small town in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, an unusual love story has sparked off tension. On July 1, a 17-year-old Hindu girl disappeared from her school with her Muslim lady teacher. Following allegations by Hindutva groups that it was a case of ‘love jihad’, a heavy police force has been deployed in the town to maintain law and order. Meanwhile, the BJP attacked the government on the issue.

    However, both individuals took to social media to release a video on Monday night, confessing that they are in a lesbian relationship and had willingly left their homes to be together. They also urged people not to indulge in communal riots and requested their parents to accept the relationship.

    The sudden disappearance of the minor girl in Sri Dungargarh town sent shockwaves through the area. The girl’s relatives held a female teacher from the school, the school administration and the teacher’s family responsible for her disappearance. The girl’s father alleged that the accused teacher and her daughter were captured on CCTV at Jaipur railway station on Sunday, two days after the incident.

    The last sighting of the girl was on platform number 1 of the railway station. Consequently, this incident became intertwined with “love jihad’, leading the family, hundreds of locals and the opposition BJP to organise protests against the Gehlot government. The area witnessed the closure of markets and escalating communal tensions.

    The situation intensified further due to an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bikaner on July 8. As a result, several prominent leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore, have set up camp in Bikaner, fiercely criticising the Gehlot government for the incident.

    In the video, the student can be heard stating, “We have learned that riots are unfolding in Dungargarh. You may believe that she (the female teacher) or her family members have lured me into this situation, but that is not true. I swear, we deeply love each other. I am not naïve enough to fall for their persuasion. We are lesbians and cannot marry anyone else, which is why we made the decision to leave our homes. We cannot bear to be apart. If you catch us, our lives will be ruined.”

    Simultaneously, the 22-year-old teacher appeals to the public, saying, “I did not entice her into this situation. We came here of our own free will. Please refrain from inciting unnecessary riots. If I have done nothing wrong, then why are you mistreating my family? We are safe and cautious. We will continue to be happy in the future, so please allow us to be.”

    Nevertheless, the police are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. As the girl is a 17-year-old minor, the Rajasthan State Child Rights Protection Commission has taken note of the incident. Sangeeta Beniwal, President of the Commission, stated, “We received information through various news sources. Following this, we gathered details of the incident from the Bikaner Superintendent of Police. Instructions have been issued to expedite the investigation and provide the commission’s office with an accurate report of the facts.”

    JAIPUR: In a small town in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, an unusual love story has sparked off tension. On July 1, a 17-year-old Hindu girl disappeared from her school with her Muslim lady teacher. Following allegations by Hindutva groups that it was a case of ‘love jihad’, a heavy police force has been deployed in the town to maintain law and order. Meanwhile, the BJP attacked the government on the issue.

    However, both individuals took to social media to release a video on Monday night, confessing that they are in a lesbian relationship and had willingly left their homes to be together. They also urged people not to indulge in communal riots and requested their parents to accept the relationship.

    The sudden disappearance of the minor girl in Sri Dungargarh town sent shockwaves through the area. The girl’s relatives held a female teacher from the school, the school administration and the teacher’s family responsible for her disappearance. The girl’s father alleged that the accused teacher and her daughter were captured on CCTV at Jaipur railway station on Sunday, two days after the incident.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    The last sighting of the girl was on platform number 1 of the railway station. Consequently, this incident became intertwined with “love jihad’, leading the family, hundreds of locals and the opposition BJP to organise protests against the Gehlot government. The area witnessed the closure of markets and escalating communal tensions.

    The situation intensified further due to an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bikaner on July 8. As a result, several prominent leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore, have set up camp in Bikaner, fiercely criticising the Gehlot government for the incident.

    In the video, the student can be heard stating, “We have learned that riots are unfolding in Dungargarh. You may believe that she (the female teacher) or her family members have lured me into this situation, but that is not true. I swear, we deeply love each other. I am not naïve enough to fall for their persuasion. We are lesbians and cannot marry anyone else, which is why we made the decision to leave our homes. We cannot bear to be apart. If you catch us, our lives will be ruined.”

    Simultaneously, the 22-year-old teacher appeals to the public, saying, “I did not entice her into this situation. We came here of our own free will. Please refrain from inciting unnecessary riots. If I have done nothing wrong, then why are you mistreating my family? We are safe and cautious. We will continue to be happy in the future, so please allow us to be.”

    Nevertheless, the police are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. As the girl is a 17-year-old minor, the Rajasthan State Child Rights Protection Commission has taken note of the incident. Sangeeta Beniwal, President of the Commission, stated, “We received information through various news sources. Following this, we gathered details of the incident from the Bikaner Superintendent of Police. Instructions have been issued to expedite the investigation and provide the commission’s office with an accurate report of the facts.”

  • Rajasthan tussle: Pilot says won t compromise on his demands from Gehlot government

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR:  Two days after a reconciliation meeting at Congress chief Mallikarjan Kharge’s house, Sachin Pilot’s attitude towards his demands is unchanged. He made it clear that there will be no compromise on the three demands that he placed at the conclusion of his padayatra on May 15.

    The three demands are: Students who suffered during the competitive exam on account of the paper leak should be compensated with financial assistance, the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) should be dissolved and reoriented to secure the future of the youth and a high-level probe instituted on alleged graft cases during former chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s tenure.

    Pilot reminded the Gehlot government of the ultimatum, saying that the commitments made to the youth on a public platform are not hot air. It was expected that the party leadership’s efforts in Delhi to bring about peace in the Rajasthan Congress will begin to manifest in the statements and body language of CM Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot. During his one-day visit to his constituency Tonk on Wednesday, Pilot seemed to lack the aggressive attitude he showed in the past few months.

    “I want to say there was loot during the BJP rule. It is about getting justice for the youth. It is not possible to compromise on that. I hope that what I said on May 15, the government will act on them soon. I am waiting,” he said.

    On Monday, Gehlot and Pilot were brought together in the presence of Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary KC Venugopal. However, no public announcement was made on a specific formula.

    JAIPUR:  Two days after a reconciliation meeting at Congress chief Mallikarjan Kharge’s house, Sachin Pilot’s attitude towards his demands is unchanged. He made it clear that there will be no compromise on the three demands that he placed at the conclusion of his padayatra on May 15.

    The three demands are: Students who suffered during the competitive exam on account of the paper leak should be compensated with financial assistance, the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) should be dissolved and reoriented to secure the future of the youth and a high-level probe instituted on alleged graft cases during former chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s tenure.

    Pilot reminded the Gehlot government of the ultimatum, saying that the commitments made to the youth on a public platform are not hot air. It was expected that the party leadership’s efforts in Delhi to bring about peace in the Rajasthan Congress will begin to manifest in the statements and body language of CM Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot. During his one-day visit to his constituency Tonk on Wednesday, Pilot seemed to lack the aggressive attitude he showed in the past few months.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “I want to say there was loot during the BJP rule. It is about getting justice for the youth. It is not possible to compromise on that. I hope that what I said on May 15, the government will act on them soon. I am waiting,” he said.

    On Monday, Gehlot and Pilot were brought together in the presence of Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and party 
    general secretary KC Venugopal. However, no public announcement was made on a specific formula.

  • Middle-aged man in Rajasthan’s Dholpur ‘buys’ minor girl to marry her

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: A seven-year-old girl was allegedly sold for Rs 4.50 lakh to be married off to a middle-aged man in Rajasthan’s Dholpur district, police said on Tuesday.

    The family of Bhupal Singh (38) had “purchased” the girl from her father after paying Rs 4.50 lakh.

    Singh married the girl on May 21, the police added. The alleged incident took place in the district’s Mania area.

    Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused’s family settled in their village after some members served time in jail in a murder case in Madhya Pradesh, the police said.

    Superintendent of Police (Dholpur) Manoj Kumar said information was received on Tuesday about the girl being “bought” and married off to a middle-aged man.

    A team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Mania) Deepak Khandelwal raided a house from where the girl was rescued. She had henna drawn on her hands and ankles.

    Khandelwal said Singh’s family members confessed to “buying” the girl after paying Rs 4.50 lakh to her father.

    A case has been registered and information is being gathered about who and how many people were involved in the act following which further action will be taken, the police said.

    JAIPUR: A seven-year-old girl was allegedly sold for Rs 4.50 lakh to be married off to a middle-aged man in Rajasthan’s Dholpur district, police said on Tuesday.

    The family of Bhupal Singh (38) had “purchased” the girl from her father after paying Rs 4.50 lakh.

    Singh married the girl on May 21, the police added. The alleged incident took place in the district’s Mania area.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused’s family settled in their village after some members served time in jail in a murder case in Madhya Pradesh, the police said.

    Superintendent of Police (Dholpur) Manoj Kumar said information was received on Tuesday about the girl being “bought” and married off to a middle-aged man.

    A team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Mania) Deepak Khandelwal raided a house from where the girl was rescued. She had henna drawn on her hands and ankles.

    Khandelwal said Singh’s family members confessed to “buying” the girl after paying Rs 4.50 lakh to her father.

    A case has been registered and information is being gathered about who and how many people were involved in the act following which further action will be taken, the police said.

  • Two labourers die while cleaning tank at oil factory in Rajasthan’s Ranpur

    By PTI

    KOTA: Two labourers died and three others fainted while cleaning a tank at an edible oil factory in Ranpur here, police said.

    The incident occurred on Monday evening when the five persons were cleaning a tank that stored dirty water discharged from the water filter plant of the oil factory, Ranpur Circle Officer (CO) Balvir Singh said. While two workers collapsed on the spot, the three others fainted, he added.

    When the five did not come out of the tank after a stipulated time, other workers suspected danger and rescued them.

    They took the victims to a nearby hospital where Lokesh (28) and Ramratan (30) were declared brought dead, the CO said, adding that the other three workers are being treated and are currently out of danger.

    An FIR has been lodged against the entire management of the oil factory under Sections 304 (death by negligence) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3 of the SC/ST Act, Singh said.

    The bodies will be handed over to their families after post-mortem, the police said, adding that the exact reason for the death of the two labourers would be ascertained after further investigation and post-mortem.

    KOTA: Two labourers died and three others fainted while cleaning a tank at an edible oil factory in Ranpur here, police said.

    The incident occurred on Monday evening when the five persons were cleaning a tank that stored dirty water discharged from the water filter plant of the oil factory, Ranpur Circle Officer (CO) Balvir Singh said. While two workers collapsed on the spot, the three others fainted, he added.

    When the five did not come out of the tank after a stipulated time, other workers suspected danger and rescued them.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    They took the victims to a nearby hospital where Lokesh (28) and Ramratan (30) were declared brought dead, the CO said, adding that the other three workers are being treated and are currently out of danger.

    An FIR has been lodged against the entire management of the oil factory under Sections 304 (death by negligence) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3 of the SC/ST Act, Singh said.

    The bodies will be handed over to their families after post-mortem, the police said, adding that the exact reason for the death of the two labourers would be ascertained after further investigation and post-mortem.

  • Pilot slams Rajasthan CM Gehlot over Raje remark

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR:  The rift between two top Congress leaders in Rajasthan has further deepened, with Sachin Pilot hitting out at Ashok Gehlot for his remarks that Vasundhara Raje saved his government in 2020.

    At a press conference in Jaipur on Tuesday, Pilot said, “After listening to Ashok Gehlot’s speech at Dholpur on Sunday, it reflects that it is not Sonia Gandhi but Vasundhara Raje is his real leader.”

    Pilot announced his decision to begin a padyatra from Ajmer to Jaipur on May 11 in an attempt to expose the corrupt deals of the previous Raje government and paper leaks during the Gehlot rule. Elections are due in Rajasthan this year. Pilot claimed that his charge of nexus between Gehlot and Raje stands proven by the chief minister’s own statements that the BJP leader had saved his government. 

    On Sunday, Gehlot expressed his gratitude to former CM Vasundhara Raje, Kailash Meghwal and BJP MLA Shobharani for helping him prevent toppling the government, despite belonging to the BJP. While Gehlot claims that the BJP tried to topple his government, but at the same suggests that Raje saved his government, said Pilot, asking the CM to clarify his stance.

    Asserting his claim for the post of Chief Minister in Rajasthan, Pilot mentioned meeting various leaders, including the late Ahmed Patel, and the formation of a committee comprising Ajay Maken and KC Venugopal. Pilot claimed that the roadmap was devised after considering their perspectives.

    He along with his loyalist MLAs worked towards strengthening the Congress during the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan  Sabha polls.

    The progress made over the past two and a half years serves as a testament to their efforts, said Pilot and emphasised that they did not engage in any act of indiscipline. However, in September of last year when there was an opportunity to discuss the matter with the MLAs, Gehlot compelled some of them to resign.

    Pilot announced the padyatra, stating, “I have raised the issue of corruption, and will continue to raise it. There has been no response regarding Vasundhara Raje’s corruption and the paper leak. That’s why I have decided to embark on a 125km walk from the RPSC in Ajmer, where many papers were leaked, to Jaipur on May 11. I will interact with the public during this padyatra, which is aimed at fighting corruption and supporting the youth.”

    On his next political move, Pilot said, “some individuals want a weak Congress and a split in the party. They are attempting my character assassination. We will not allow this to happen. My stance on public issues will remain unchanged. The people are more important than any leader, and we will present all these matters to the public,” he said.

    JAIPUR:  The rift between two top Congress leaders in Rajasthan has further deepened, with Sachin Pilot hitting out at Ashok Gehlot for his remarks that Vasundhara Raje saved his government in 2020.

    At a press conference in Jaipur on Tuesday, Pilot said, “After listening to Ashok Gehlot’s speech at Dholpur on Sunday, it reflects that it is not Sonia Gandhi but Vasundhara Raje is his real leader.”

    Pilot announced his decision to begin a padyatra from Ajmer to Jaipur on May 11 in an attempt to expose the corrupt deals of the previous Raje government and paper leaks during the Gehlot rule. Elections are due in Rajasthan this year. Pilot claimed that his charge of nexus between Gehlot and Raje stands proven by the chief minister’s own statements that the BJP leader had saved his government. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    On Sunday, Gehlot expressed his gratitude to former CM Vasundhara Raje, Kailash Meghwal and BJP MLA Shobharani for helping him prevent toppling the government, despite belonging to the BJP. While Gehlot claims that the BJP tried to topple his government, but at the same suggests that Raje saved his government, said Pilot, asking the CM to clarify his stance.

    Asserting his claim for the post of Chief Minister in Rajasthan, Pilot mentioned meeting various leaders, including the late Ahmed Patel, and the formation of a committee comprising Ajay Maken and KC Venugopal. Pilot claimed that the roadmap was devised after considering their perspectives.

    He along with his loyalist MLAs worked towards strengthening the Congress during the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan  Sabha polls.

    The progress made over the past two and a half years serves as a testament to their efforts, said Pilot and emphasised that they did not engage in any act of indiscipline. However, in September of last year when there was an opportunity to discuss the matter with the MLAs, Gehlot compelled some of them to resign.

    Pilot announced the padyatra, stating, “I have raised the issue of corruption, and will continue to raise it. There has been no response regarding Vasundhara Raje’s corruption and the paper leak. That’s why I have decided to embark on a 125km walk from the RPSC in Ajmer, where many papers were leaked, to Jaipur on May 11. I will interact with the public during this padyatra, which is aimed at fighting corruption and supporting the youth.”

    On his next political move, Pilot said, “some individuals want a weak Congress and a split in the party. They are attempting my character assassination. We will not allow this to happen. My stance on public issues will remain unchanged. The people are more important than any leader, and we will present all these matters to the public,” he said.