Tag: Rajasthan

  • BJP hits out at Congress over infighting in Rajasthan unit

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: The BJP on Saturday alleged that the people of Rajasthan are suffering due to the infighting in the ruling Congress.

    “How can a government take care of the people of the state if it is not able to satisfy even its MLAs,” BJP national general secretary and state in-charge Arun Singh said, citing the tussle in the Congress over the issue of Cabinet expansion.

    The BJP is preparing for a mass movement in the state to corner the government over farm loan waiver, unemployment allowance, pending recruitment and “deteriorating” law and order, Singh said He claimed that the Gehlot government is trying to save itself by “delaying” cabinet expansion.

    “Gehlot government has no concern for the people. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot does not even leave his house. Now, the Gehlot government is trying to save itself by delaying the changes in the cabinet.

    “Within no time, the entire cabinet in Karnataka was changed but the Rajasthan government is giving excuses,” Singh said a press conference.

    He said that the people of the state are bearing the brunt of the infighting in the Congress and political leaders from other states are forced to come here to resolve disputes.

    Recently, Haryana Congress President Kumari Selja and later Karnataka Congress president D.

    K Shivakumar had met Chief Minister Gehlot, leading to speculation that they had come with a message from the party high command.

    Singh also claimed Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot have personal differences.

    “The people of the state are feeling cheated due to the flawed policies of this government,” he said, adding the BJP workers will work to oust the Congress government in the next Assembly elections.

  • 64 per cent of promises made in election manifesto fulfilled: Rajasthan CM

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said that so far, 64 per cent of the promises made in the 2018 assembly election manifesto have been fulfilled.

    In a review meeting with Congress manifesto committee chairman Tamradhwaj Sahu, MP Amar Singh and members of the council of ministers, Gehlot said that out of 501 promises of the ‘Jan Ghoshna Patra’, 321 have been fulfilled.

    The state government will fulfil the remaining promises, he said, adding that a Cabinet sub-committee is continuously monitoring the implementation of the manifesto.

    Gehlot said promises related to farmers, women, youth, unemployed, animal husbandry, needy sections and basic amenities are being fulfilled on priority.

    He said that the ‘Jan Ghosna Patra’ (manifesto) is a policy document of the state government as well as a vision document to accelerate the development of Rajasthan.

    “The government is committed for time-bound fulfilment of each promise,” he said. In the review meeting, All India Congress Committee (AICC) member Sahu expressed satisfaction over the progress of the state government.

    He said that the speed with which efforts are being made to fulfil the promises made in the manifesto is commendable.

    Later, Sahu told reporters that apart from fulfilling the promises of the manifesto, the state government has done some additional works and launched schemes in public interest which were not there in the manifesto.

    He said that due to the Covid pandemic, there was delay in the execution of some of the promises. “However, the overall execution is good,” Sahu said.

    Sahu said that he will prepare a report of the review meeting and submit it to the party high command in next two to three days.

  • Rajasthan records zero COVID-19 fatality, 28 new cases

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: No death due to COVID-19 was recorded in Rajasthan on Friday, while 28 new cases were reported, the health department said.

    According to officials, 26 of the 33 districts in the state did not record a single positive case on Friday.

    There are a total of 9,53,650 Covid cases in the state while the death toll stands at 8,953, they said.

    Of the new cases, eight were reported from Jaipur and six each from Udaipur and Sriganganagar besides other cities.

    A total of 9,44,443 people have recovered from the infection so far and the number of active cases is 254, they said.

  • Some ministers willing to step down in Rajasthan: Congress leader Ajay Maken ahead of reshuffle

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: In a clear indication that some members of the Rajasthan Cabinet may be dropped, Congress general secretary Ajay Maken on Friday said a few ministers have expressed willingness to quit the government to work for the organisation.

    The remark by Maken, who is the Rajasthan in-charge at the All India Congress Committee (AICC), follows his one-on-one meetings here with party MLAs and other leaders in the Congress-ruled state ahead of a likely Cabinet reshuffle.

    Maken said everyone told him that they will accept whatever the party high command decides for them.

    A Cabinet expansion and appointments to district Congress posts is expected soon, following demands by supporters of former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot for a bigger share of power in the state led by Ashok Gehlot.

    “There are people who are eager to leave government positions and work for the organisation. We are proud of such people,” Maken said, his remarks indicating that some ministers in the Gehlot Cabinet may now make way for fresh faces.

    “The Congress will form the government again in 2023 with our members, who are ready to leave everything and work together with the organisation,” he told reporters. The leader said the ministers cited his own example when he quit a ministerial post in 2013 to work for the organisation.

    After the one-on-one meetings on Wednesday and Thursday with 115 MLAs – from the ruling party and those supporting it – Maken held discussions Friday with the state executive at the Congress headquarters here.

    He is now expected to submit his report to the party’s central leadership in New Delhi. “We mainly discussed how we can bring back a Congress government in 2023. In the state executive meeting also, we discussed that there should be better coordination between the government and the organisation so that together we can bring the Congress back to power,” he said.

    Maken appreciated the performance of the Gehlot government. “I was told by every MLA how amazing development work has been carried out in their constituency — be it education, health, roads, hospitals. All MLAs are satisfied and all are moving ahead on the path of development,” he said.

    Apart from the MLAs, Maken spoke separately with Gehlot, Pilot, state unit president Govind Singh Dotasra and Speaker CP Joshi.

    Asked about the possible role for Pilot, who was sacked as deputy CM and the state unit president after he rebelled last year against Gehlot, he said, “Everyone has faith in the high command. Everyone has said that whatever role the high command decides will be acceptable to all.”

     On Thursday night, Gehlot also held an informal meeting of party MLAs at his home. “Forget, forgive and unite. There is no dearth of development work in the state. The work will continue like this…have faith. All of you will win and the Congress will form the government in 2023,” he was quoted later as telling them.

    Including Gehlot, there are 21 members now in the Rajasthan ministry and up to nine more can be accommodated. Similarly, there are vacancies in party units at the district level. The Congress high command had brought about a truce in the Rajasthan unit after rebel MLAs led by Pilot appeared to bring the Gehlot government on the brink of collapse last year.

    A three-member AICC committee was formed to look into the grievances of Pilot supporters. But they claim that this has not happened even months later.

  • Congress to retain power in Rajasthan in 2023 Assembly polls: CM Ashok Gehlot to party MLAs

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has exuded confidence that the Congress will return to power in the state in the 2023 Assembly polls.

    “Forget, forgive and unite. There is no dearth of development work in the state. The work will continue like this….Have faith. All of you will win (in the election) and the Congress will form the government in 2023,” Gehlot said during an informal meeting with party MLAs at his residence on Thursday night.

    The chief minister also announced that Rs 3 crore per MLA will be released for COVID-19 vaccination. The amount was withheld earlier. According to the chief whip in the state Assembly, Mahesh Joshi, Gehlot said, “I have said this before and still say that I will work as the guardian for everyone. Whatever work you want, get it done from me.”

    Joshi said the chief minister announced that the withheld amount of Rs 3 crore will be released from the MLAs’ fund, but he also made it clear that of the total amount of Rs 5 crore, the legislators will have to put Rs 2 crore in the health sector and the remaining Rs 3 crore will be spent on development work.

    Gehlot asked the MLAs to print booklets on the work done during their tenure of two-and-a-half years and distribute those among the public. The booklets will also be given to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC).

    AICC in-charge of Rajasthan Ajay Maken said, “I have not seen such a spectacular performance of the government and the MLAs anywhere else.” Ahead of an expected cabinet reshuffle, Maken concluded his talks with the party legislators to take feedback on the performance of the Congress government in the state.

    He held one-on-one meetings with 49 MLAs from 20 districts on Thursday. During his two-day tour of the state, Maken met 115 legislators. He will submit a report to the party high-command in New Delhi. The Congress came to power in the state in December 2018 and has completed almost a half of its term.

    The ruling party has 106 MLAs in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly. Apart from this, the government has the support of 13 Independent MLAs. Ahead of the expected cabinet rejig, Congress general secretaries Maken and K C Venugopal held a discussion with Gehlot last Saturday.

    Sources in the Congress said the leaders have decided to leave the decision of cabinet expansion to the party high-command. They said Maken would hold a meeting with the state Congress office-bearers on Friday. Gehlot is likely to host a lunch for the party’s state executive members.

  • Rajasthan: Former BJP MLA allegedly manhandled by protesting farmers in Shahjahanpur

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: A former BJP MLA was allegedly manhandled and his vehicle damaged by farmers protesting against three agri laws at Rajasthan’s Shahjahanpur, following which his supporters on Monday held a demonstration in Sikar and demanded arrest of the perpetrators.

    Shahjahanpur Station House Officer Vikram Singh said that no complaint has been received so far in the matter. Police said Prem Singh Bajor was on his way to Delhi when some farmers at Shahjahanpur in Alwar district identified him and stopped his SUV.

    Balor had an altercation with them and then, they allegedly manhandled him, tore his clothes and damaged his vehicle, police said quoting people who are the site of the incident.

    They said that the farmers are agitating against the three central laws which were enacted in September last year. Sources said that some time back, Bajor, who is from Sikar, had given a statement against the protesting farmers.

  • No contradiction among Congress leaders in Rajasthan on cabinet reshuffle: Ajay Maken

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: AICC general secretary Ajay Maken on Sunday said there is no contradiction among the party’s leaders in Rajasthan on the issue of cabinet reshuffle and that they have expressed confidence in the high command for the decision.

    After meeting ministers, MLAs and office bearers at the party office here, Maken said all of them have unanimously left the decision of the cabinet reshuffle on the party high command.

    However, Maken did not disclose a date of the cabinet expansion.

    “I can say that there is no contradiction among the party leaders and they all have left the final decision about the cabinet expansion to the party high command,” he told reporters.

    Maken, together with AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, arrived at the party office in Jaipur for the meeting.

    He said issues like inflation and the Pegasus matter were discussed.

    Maken said he would come to Jaipur again on July 28 to hold discussions with MLAs on the appointment of district and block presidents of the party.

  • Rajasthan government to reopen schools from August 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Covid: Rajasthan health minister says 1st two waves ‘controlled’, urges caution to prevent a 3rd

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma Tuesday said the state has managed to “control” the first and the second waves of coronavirus, but urged people to strictly follow health guidelines to prevent a third wave of the pandemic.

    He was speaking after the foundation-laying ceremony for the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) near Bairwa Basti of Kishanpole Assembly constituency under the National Urban Health Mission.

    “We have controlled the first and the second waves of coronavirus in the state but still the threat of coronavirus is not over. There is fear of a third wave, so I call upon the people to strictly follow the coronavirus protocol, including wearing of masks while leaving the house, washing hands frequently and avoiding crowded places,” Sharma said in a statement.

    He said the UPHC will be built at a cost of Rs 75 lakh within six months. The health minister said that with the construction of the UPHC, medical facilities including diagnosis, treatment, medicines, vaccination etc will be accessible to the nearby population, especially the people residing in the slums, free of cost.

  • Rajasthan SDM kicks farmer for demanding compensation for road project land, shunted out

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: The controversial SDM of Sanchore, Bhupendra Yadav, who shot into the limelight for kicking a farmer for demanding compensation for a highway project in Jalore district, was transferred late on Friday night.

    The SDM had kicked a farmer named Narsingh Ram Chaudhary in Pratappura village of Sanchore on Thursday. The video of the incident went viral on social media. 

    Farmers in the area were demanding adequate compensation for the construction of a highway built under the Bharat Mala Project. The work on the expressway from Amritsar to Jamnagar had started on Thursday (July 15, 2021). The farmers soon reached the spot of the incident in Jalore to protest. It is noteworthy that when SDM Bhupendra Yadav reached the location to inspect the work, a farmer sat in front of the JCB in protest against the road construction. 

    किसान को लात मारना वीरता का काम नहीं है एसडीएम साहब …पर आपकी क्या गलती है , राजस्थान में कांग्रेस का राज है , अत्याचार करने की पुरी छूट है