News Analysis India

Tag: Rajasthan

  • Union government did nothing in seven years to control inflation: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday blamed the Centre’s policies for the rising inflation in the country and said the government has taken no concrete step in the last seven years to bring it down.

    It has become difficult for the common man to run his household due to the high inflation, he said.

    According to the labour ministry, the year-on-year retail inflation for industrial workers stood at 5.24 per cent in May as against 5.14 per cent in April and 5.10 per cent in May last year.

    Similarly, food inflation stood at 5.26 per cent in May as against 4.78 per cent in April and 5.88 per cent in May last year, the ministry had said.

    Gehlot said the central government has failed miserably in controlling inflation.

    It neither has the right policy nor a clear intention.

    Everything from petrol, diesel, cooking gas to daily-use items has become expensive.

    Citing the government data on inflation, he said, “It shows how fast the prices of goods have increased in the market.”

    The chief minister said the high inflation clubbed with reduced income due to the coronavirus pandemic is making it difficult for the common man to run his household.

    Increasing the price of mustard oil to Rs 180-190 per litre is like snatching food from the common man, he said.

    Gehlot claimed the Modi government has increased the price of LPG cylinders by Rs 255 in the last 14 months.

    “Gas subsidy has also been completely stopped now,” he claimed.

  • Truck ferrying cows, spirit from Rajasthan to Maharashtra intercepted in Madhya Pradesh

    By PTI
    KHARGONE: A truck ferrying 53 cows as well as 70 litres of illicit spirit from Rajasthan to Malegaon in Maharashtra was intercepted by police in Khargone in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, an official said.

    The truck was stopped on AB road under Balakwada police station limits on a tip off, he said.

    “The 53 cows were being transported in cruel and unhygienic conditions. Truck driver Yaseen Khan and attendant Manjur Niharkar, both hailing from Mandsaur, were arrested under Madhya Pradesh Govansh Vadh Pratishedh Adhiniyam, Excise Act and IPC provisions,” Khaltanka police outpost head Rajendra Singh Baghel said.

  • NGT directs Jindal Saw Ltd to pay Rs 4 crore compensation for damaging houses by illegal blasting

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has directed Jindal Saw Ltd to deposit Rs 4 crore as compensation because illegal blasting by it had caused damage to a number of houses in Pur village in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district.

    A bench headed by the tribunal’s chairperson, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, issued an order for consideration of remedial action against illegal blasting and mining by Jindal Saw Ltd, which resulted in damage to a number of houses.

    Cracks have developed on the walls of houses and there is leakage of water from underground tanks of some houses, it said.

    “Applying a rough and ready estimate, we assess such compensation to be Rs 1 lakh for each of the 375 affected persons mentioned in the report of the state PCB (Pollution Control Board) dated August 19, 2019,” the bench said.

    “If the victims have higher claims, they are at liberty to take their remedies. M/s Jindal Saw Ltd, Bhilwada, Rajasthan, is directed to deposit a sum of Rs 4 crores with the district magistrate, Bhilwada, within one month to enable compensation to be disbursed to the victims and for restoration of the environment,” it said.

    The National Green Tribunal (NGT) said the company must take precautions in the future and blasting must be scientific so that it does not cause damage to properties of people.

    These will be treated as conditions for mining and blasting, apart from the laid down safeguards, it said.

    “In default of such deposit or non-observance of safety norms, the district magistrate, Bhilwada, will be at liberty to take coercive measures of stopping the mining activities, till compliance,” the bench said.

    “The amount deposited may be paid at the rate of Rs 1 lakh to each affected person within three months after making an action plan by the district magistrate,” it said.

    The green panel also asked the Rajasthan State Legal Service Authority to provide assistance to ensure that payments are made to the genuine victims.

    Out of the Rs 4 crore, the amount which remains unpaid, can be spent for ecological restoration of the area on the basis of an action plan, which will be prepared by district magistrate within two months and may be overseen by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and the Rajasthan environment department, the bench said.

    “If any further amount is required, on polluter pays principle the project proponent will bear the same to extent its activities are held to be responsible even in absence of scientific evidence but based on reasonable inference, unless shown otherwise by the project proponent,” it said.

    “The district magistrate will be free to take the assistance of such other expert/institution as may be considered necessary,” the NGT said.

    The regulatory authorities need to review its mechanism and must ensure laying down and monitoring compliance of safety precautions, the tribunal added.

    “Since the above order is being passed based on finding of damage to 375 houses in the report of the State PCB and quantum of compensation is being fixed on a most conservative assessment basis summarily, without applying the deterrence principle which may possibly be attracted on account of continuing violations for long, we have not considered it necessary to issue notice to the Project Proponent,” the bench said.

    However, the project proponent is at liberty to move this tribunal if it is aggrieved by the order, the NGT said.

    The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Rajasthan resident Balkrishan Vyas against illegal blasting and mining by Jindal Saw Ltd resulting in damage to number of houses.

    The houses have developed cracks on the walls and leakage of water is taking place from the underground water tanks of some houses, the plea said.

  • No honest tehsildar in India, even upright ones take 2 per cent bribe: Rajasthan minister

    By PTI
    KOTA: A Rajasthan minister has claimed that there are no honest tehsildars in the county and even the upright ones take 2 per cent kickback. Rajasthan Industries Minister Parsadi Lal Meena said taking 2 per cent bribe is a practice among the tehsildars, naib tehsildars and patwaris across the country.

    “Nowhere in India, one can find an honest tehsildar, naib tehsildar and patwari. I have been a six-time MLA and thrice held ministerial posts – several tehsildars, naib tehsildars were deputed, they always take 2 per cent (bribe),” he said during a public hearing in Bundi on Tuesday.

    The minister’s response came after Pradesh Congress committee member Satyesh Sharma raised the issue of tehsildar (revenue officer) Pritam Kumari Meena getting an Awaited Posting Order (APO). Meanwhile, Congress workers led by the party’s Bundi city president Devraj Gochar raised slogans against the minister for allegedly not hearing their complaints against district collector Ashish Gupta.

    The protestors also said that they would not allow Parsadi Lal Meena, who is in-charge of Bundi district, to visit the district in the future.

  • Rajasthan: G-19 front expresses faith in Gehlot, attacks Pilot for pressure tactics as Congress rift widens

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: The crucial meeting of the newly-formed G-19 front to neutralise the demands of Sachin Pilot camp was held in Jaipur on Wednesday. But in a new twist, the 6 ex-BSP MLAs who were part of this alliance didn’t join the meeting apparently due to fears that they may face disciplinary action from the Congress high command.

    The 13 Independent MLAs met at the Jaipur Circuit House in the evening and as expected they expressed full faith in the Ashok Gehlot government. They also targeted the BJP and asserted that if the Saffron party tries to destabilize the Gehlot government, then they will provide an effective answer. On Sachin Pilot, these MLAs said that he had never tasted defeat and is upset at being outwitted for the first time.  

    After the meeting which lasted an hour, Independent MLA Sanyam Lodha told the media that, “our group has supported and strengthened the Rajasthan government both within and outside the state assembly.” 

    On the issue of the upcoming cabinet expansion and political appointments in the state, Lodha remarked that this is the prerogative of CM Gehlot. “When and how he wants to reshuffle the Cabinet is a special right of the Chief Minister. Creating undue pressure or setting any time limit for this exercise is totally unwanted. It will not be in the interest of the people of the state to set such conditions and our group fully authorises CM Gehlot to take all such decisions as he deems fit.”

    Without taking any names, this was a clear hint at the pressure being built up by the Sachin Pilot camp which wants cabinet expansion and political appointments in the state to happen at the earliest and adequate representation for loyalists of the former Deputy CM.

    But when asked who is creating pressure, MLA Lodha said, “there is no need to name anyone. Everyone knows who is using pressure tactics.”

    Most political observers in Rajasthan believe that the G-19 front has been specially formed as a powerful tool for the Gehlot camp. The meeting today is likely to intensify pressure on the Congress High Command not to succumb to the excessive demands of the Pilot camp.

    After the meeting today and its advocacy of a ‘free hand’ to CM Gehlot in the matter of cabinet expansion and political appointments, the factional fight between the Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot camps is likely to escalate further. Political observers are keenly watching the next step of the Pilot camp.

  • Gehlot govt to change BJP era school uniform to ‘de-saffronise’ education in Rajasthan

    By Express News Service
    JAIPUR: The Ashok Gehlot government has decided to change the uniform of 80 lakh students of government schools in Rajasthan. 

    At present, the school uniform has brown colour trousers and light brown shirts. 

    In 2017, the former BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje had changed school dresses after two decades. The Congress had accused the move of being aimed at saffronisation as it was rather similar to the Khaki uniform of RSS.

    A special committee has been formed to decide the colors for the new dress. 

    However, to prevent any additional burden on parents, the government will distribute the new dresses free of cost to all students. In this year’s budget, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced that his government would provide free uniforms to children in public schools. 

    Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara said: “The color of the school dress may change but what will be the color of the new school dress be? This will be decided by a special committee. Free clothing will be offered to children in all public schools. For this, we will decide to put money in the parents’ account via DBT or we may just provide the new dress to students.”

    The Gehlot government had considered changing the dress of public schools last year and had even formed a committee for it. But the proposal was blocked due to the Corona crisis. 

    Last year, the BJP opposed the proposal to change school dress, saying it would put a lot of unnecessary burden on parents of students.

    According to the estimates, the Rajasthan Government’s decision to junk the earlier uniform will cost it over Rs 400 crore.

  • Active cases of COVID-19 dip below 100 in 22 districts of Rajasthan

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: In a big respite for Rajasthan, 22 out of 33 districts are now on the threshold of becoming coronavirus-free as the number of active cases has slipped below 100-mark. In 29 districts, the number of positive cases was recorded below 10.

    On May 2, the maximum number of 18,298 COVID cases were reported, but on June 19, only 150 new infections were recorded. There has been a major decline in the number of active cases (3,783) in the state as well.

    The data shows that in 47 days, cases have come down by 122 times. The number of deaths has also dropped, indicating that the second wave is ebbing. On May 11, the maximum number of 169 deaths were recorded in the state, whereas on Friday, only nine deaths were reported in four districts – a decrease by 19 times in 38 days.

    The data of Covid situation for May and June indicate that on May 11, the state saw the peak of the second wave and there was a decline in the number of fresh cases, active cases and deaths. There is a major drop in cases in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Alwar, Hanumangarah and Udaipur which had become COVID hotspots. On Friday, only 25 new cases were recorded in the state capital, while it did not report any deaths. Four fatalities were recorded in Udaipur followed by Hanumangrah where three died.

    The 10 districts that have over 100 active cases are Ajmer, Alwar, Barmer, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, and Sikar. State Medical and Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma said to reduce the impact of the second wave in rural areas, a door-to-door survey was conducted by the Health Department and kits were also distribut edt opatients with Influenza-like illnesses.

  • Asaram Bapu hospitalised, his plea for shifting to ayurvedic centre infructuous: Rajasthan govt to SC

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Rajasthan government on Friday told the Supreme Court that self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, serving a life term in two rape cases, has been hospitalised and is in intensive care unit.

    A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and M R Shah was informed by senior advocate Manish Singhvi, appearing for Rajasthan, that Asaram’s plea for transferring him to an ayurvedic centre near Haridwar in Uttarakhand has become infructuous as now he cannot be shifted due to his hospitalisation.

    Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Asaram, said his client has been admitted to the hospital and the court should call for the medical records.

    “We don’t know what his ailments are. This court should order for the calling of his medical records from the state as the hospital authorities will not give the details to them,” Luthra said.

    The bench said however that it was adjourning the matter till reopening of the court after the summer vacation.

    On June 8, the state government had told the top court that Asaram is fit and stable but trying to change the venue of his custody on the pretext of medical treatment.

    The state government had made this submission to the apex court in its reply to Asaram’s fresh plea, seeking suspension of his sentence and interim bail to undergo treatment for various ailments at an ayurvedic centre near Haridwar in Uttarakhand.

    Asaram is serving varying jail terms including life sentences in two sexual assault cases.

    “The accused/petitioner with ulterior motives has been attempting to change the venue of his custody, under the guise of medical treatment.

    Such change, with due respect, is an abuse of the process of law,” the state government had said in its affidavit.

    “The accused is also deliberately delaying the pending trial at Gandhi Nagar as well as Jodhpur, raising such pleas with mala fides whereas he is stable and fit,” it had said.

    The state government had said Jodhpur is one of the rare centres, where both the allopathic and ayurvedic treatments are available.

    It had also said Asaram was tested positive for COVID-19 on May 6 and was having mild symptoms, with low-grade fever and was treated properly.

    Apprehending threat to the life of family members, father of the child rape-victim has also moved the top court opposing the bail plea of Asaram.

    The application for intervention has been filed in the pending petition of Asaram in which he has sought suspension of his sentence and interim bail to undergo treatment for various ailments at an Ayurvedic centre near Haridwar in Uttarakhand.

    A Jodhpur court, on April 25, 2018, had sentenced Asaram to life in prison after finding him guilty of raping a teenage girl in his ashram in 2013.

    The plea filed through advocate Utsav Bains has said that in case Asaram is admitted to interim bail, there is likelihood that out of vengeance, he may get the applicant, his daughter and his family members killed.

    On June 4, the apex court had sought the Rajasthan government’s response to Asaram’s plea for the court’s permission for the treatment at an ayurvedic centre near Haridwar.

    The top court had then orally observed that it was not inclined to grant interim bail by suspending the self-styled godman’s sentence.

    Asaram had sought the suspension of his sentence for two months saying he needed to get “holistic” treatment of his multiple ailments at a medical centre near Haridwar.

    Asaram has moved the apex court, challenging the Rajasthan High Court order which had earlier dismissed his plea for the suspension of his sentences to undergo treatment at a medical centre of his choice.

    The plea of Asaram has been filed through lawyer Saurabh Ajay Gupta.

    Asaram’s accomplices Sharad and Shilpi were also sentenced to 20 years in jail by the court in the 2013 case for their roles.

    The teenager had said in her complaint that Asaram had called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.

    The 16-year-old girl from Shahjahanpur of Uttar Pradesh was studying at Asaram’s ashram in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.

    He was also convicted in a 2002 rape case and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

    Asaram is also facing a rape case in Surat in Gujarat.

    He was arrested in Indore and brought to Jodhpur on September 1, 2013 and is in judicial custody since then.

  • Centre’s welfare measures for children-orphaned by Covid ‘defective’, says Rajasthan CM Gehlot

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday termed the Centre’s welfare measures for children who lost their parents to COVID-19 “defective” and demanded that they be revised as they did not provide immediate relief.

    He also claimed the Centre did not announce any scheme to help women whose husbands succumbed to the disease.

    Gehlot was speaking during a video conference on Covid vaccination.

    On May 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a number of welfare measures, including providing financial assistance, for children who lost their parents to COVID-19.

    According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), fixed deposits will be opened in the names of such children, and the PM-CARES fund will contribute through a specially designed scheme to create a corpus of Rs 10 lakh for each of them.

    This corpus will be used to give the beneficiaries a monthly stipend from 18 years of age for the next five years.

    On reaching the age of 23, they will get the corpus amount as one lump-sum for personal and professional use.

    Gehlot said the Centre’s package did not provide immediate relief, which was of utmost importance, to the children who lost their parents to COVID-19.

    “The package of the government of India is defective and there is confusion about it. The government will provide financial help after a child reaches the age of 18. Who knows who will be where after 18 years? Package means instant help,” he said.

    He added that he would speak to PM Modi about the scheme.

    The chief minister also alleged that the Centre did not announce any measures to help women who lost their husbands to COVID-19.

    On the other hand, the Rajasthan government provided immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh to children orphaned and women widowed by the pandemic apart from monthly financial assistance.

    The Rajasthan government’s scheme provides immediate financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to such children and widows.

    In addition to this, children would get Rs 2,500 per month till the age of 18 and Rs 5 lakh once they attain the age of 18 while widows would get a monthly social security pension of Rs 1,500.

    Besides the scheme for children, the Centre had announced a string of measures on May 29 to help the families who lost their earning members to the pandemic.

    These include a pension for dependents of Covid victims and enhanced and liberalised insurance benefits under the Employees’ Deposit-Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme.

    During the conference, Gehlot said a section of media published misleading news about the wastage of Covid vaccines in Rajasthan.

    Recently, a media report claimed that 500 vials of Covid vaccines were found in a dustbin at 35 inoculation centres in the state.

    Citing the report, the Centre wrote to the Rajasthan government on May 31 saying this was “not acceptable” and must be investigated.

    Replying to the Centre’s letter, state Health Minister Raghu Sharma had said the news report was “false and not based on facts”.

    Gehlot said vaccine wastage in Rajasthan at that time was around 2 per cent as against the national average of 6 per cent.

    The wastage has further reduced to 0.8 per cent in the state.

    “Our health workers were targeted and misleading news was published as part of a campaign, which was unfortunate. How can health workers dump vaccines in the dustbin? The procedure which was followed by them was in accordance with the central government guidelines,” he said.

    “Such an unfortunate campaign was run at a time when the public was suffering. It is wrong that vaccines were wasted. Our target is to ensure zero wastage of vaccines,” he said.

    Health Minister Raghu Sharma, Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal and Assembly Speaker C P Joshi also addressed the conference that was attended by district collectors, sarpanches and other public representatives.

  • Rift widens in Rajasthan Congress as Pilot camp MLAs, ex-BSP MLAs battle for cabinet berths

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: The expansion of the Ashok Gehlot ministry originally demanded by the Sachin Pilot camp has turned more complicated in Rajasthan. 

    After weeks of pressure from Pilot’s followers, six former BSP MLAs who had joined the Congress two years ago and played a crucial role in saving the Gehlot government are now demanding their share of power. Political analysts believe these former BSP MLAs are being encouraged by the Gehlot camp to neutralise the pressure from the Pilot camp.

    One of these ex-BSP MLAs, Sandeep Yadav said, “There are issues in Cabinet expansion but it should be done now. It has been delayed for a long time but whenever it is suitable for CM Gehlot and circumstances are right, he should take the decision.”

    Tijara MLA Sandeep Yadav and three other ex-BSP MLAs also objected to any move by the Congress high command to pacify dissident legislators led by Sachin Pilot, saying it was because of them that the government faced a crisis last year. 

    Asserting that people who were “loyal” to the party should be “rewarded” in the cabinet expansion, Yadav even remarked that “the government was saved only because we six and other independents stood by it. The Congress high command should not listen to those who endangered the Gehlot government. Instead, those who saved the government should be rewarded.”

    ALSO READ | BJP posters in Rajasthan without former CM Vasundhara Raje face fan factional fight

    MLA Yadav, who was earlier in the BJP but moved to the BSP after being denied a BJP ticket for the assembly elections in 2018, further said that instead of listening to rebel MLAs, the Congress high command should reward those who have shown loyalty.

    This drew a swift and sharp response from the Pilot camp. Mukesh Bhakar, a known Pilot camp MLA hit back and said those who switch parties frequently were talking about loyalty. 

    Bhakar claimed, “People of the state know who is trustworthy and who is not. People who have switched three parties in two-and-a-half years because of their greed for power are telling us about loyalty and honesty.”

    Bhakar was accompanied by Congress MLA from Masuda constituency Rakesh Pareek. He told reporters at a press conference, “This is wrong. They should tell on whose directions they are giving such statements.”

    Without naming anyone, Bhakar was hinting that the Gehlot camp is fanning the fire being lit by former BSP MLAs.

    Many political observers also believe that the Gehlot group may be covertly encouraging the ex-BSP MLAs in order to neutralize the pressure being mounted by the Pilot camp. Nine cabinet berths are vacant in the state and numerous MLAs are eyeing the berths.

    Pilot had returned with 18 MLAs last year following a reconciliation after a month-long rebellion against CM Gehlot. He had talked to the media recently and said that even after 10 months, his issues were unresolved and the workers who had worked hard to bring  Congress to power were not being heard. 

    However, the Rajasthan Cabinet expansion is unlikely to happen in a hurry after an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of CM Ashok Gehlot announced that doctors have advised Gehlot to avoid one-on-one meetings. CM Gehlot has decided he will not meet any individual for a month as a precautionary step to fully recover from Covid-19.

    Clearly, as the entire issue of cabinet expansion and political appointments becomes more complex, political turmoil in the Rajasthan Congress is likely to sharpen.