News Analysis India

Tag: Rajasthan

  • BJP posters in Rajasthan without former CM Vasundhara Raje face fan factional fight

    Express News Service
    After years of getting prominent display on BJP posters in Rajasthan, former chief minister and BJP bigwig Vasundhara Raje’s face went missing from the party hoardings for the first time in two decades, indicating that Congress is not alone in fighting factionalism.

    While BJP’s state unit president Satish Poonia said newer faces replacing the older is indicative of a generational shift, Raje supporters were not amused, insisting hers was the most popular BJP face in the state.

    Poonia, a known Raje critic, said the decision on who would get a place on posters is taken by the Central leadership.

    ALSO READ: Ashok Gehlot appoints Vasundhara Raje loyalist as mayor, creates divide in Rajasthan BJP

    “The state unit has no say in this matter. According to an established norm, the state president’s photo is displayed on hoardings in all the states, along with the photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national president J P Nadda, the chief minister of the state where the party is in power. But where ever the party is in opposition, the protocol is to put the photo of the leader of the Opposition and the state president. All this is decided by Delhi,” he said.

    However, the explanation did not cut ice with Raje’s supporters. A former BJP MLA, Prahlad Gunjal, not only targeted Raje critics but also asserted that it’s impossible for the BJP to return to power in Rajasthan without Raje.

    ALSO READ: With return of Vasundhara Raje, factionalism erupts in Rajasthan BJP

    “Who are these people who want to sideline Raje? Frankly, it’s unimaginable how BJP will return to power in Rajasthan without Vasundhara at the helm. We do not have a single leader of her stature in the state,” he said.

    Clearly, the decision to drop Raje from BJP posters and the party’s state chief’s attempt to justify it has fanned the flames of discontent, which will only likely grow stronger. 

  • Monuments, museums reopen in Rajasthan; officials says footfall ‘quite low’

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Thin crowds were witnessed at forts, monuments and museums in Rajasthan as they reopened on Wednesday after being shut for almost two months due to the second wave of COVID-19, according to officials.

    The number of tourists was quite low, but it is expected that footfall will increase in the coming days, Director, Rajasthan Department of Archeology and Museums, Prakash Chandra Sharma, told PTI.

    There are 342 monuments under the state department of archaeology and museums and at 31 of them, entry is ticketed.

    “All monuments were reopened from 9 am to 3 pm on Wednesday as per guidelines of the state government. Covid-related guidelines were followed at all the monuments,” he said.

    Monuments and museums were closed on April 17 as restrictions were imposed in wake of the second wave.

    A total of 772 tourists visited 31 monuments and museums.

    The highest number of tourists, 518, was recorded at monuments and museums in state capital Jaipur, according to official data.

    The highest footfall was at the iconic Amber palace and fort in Jaipur where 130 tourists visited.

    “The number of tourists is quite low today, but we are hopeful that the situation will improve and footfall will increase,” Pankaj Dharendra, Superintendent of the Amber palace, said.

    In the summer season, normally, 1,500-2,000 tourists visit the palace every day, while the footfall of tourists increases to 12,000-14,000 a day during peak seasons from October to March, according to data.

    On Wednesday, 117 tourists visited the Nahargarh fort, 110 the Albert Hall (museum), 96 the Hawamahal, 63 the Jantar-Mantar and two visited the Sisodiya Bagh.

    All these places are in Jaipur.

    Outside Jaipur, Chittorgarh received 103 tourists.

    There were no tourists at museums and monuments under the department in Bikaner, Baran, Dungarpur, Jaisalmer, Kota, Bhilwara, according to official data.

    Monuments under the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) have also reopened in Rajasthan.

    “There were negligible tourists at the monuments today,” an official of the ASI’s Jaipur Circle said. There are 90 monuments under the ASI Jaipur circle and three of them- Ranthambore fort (Sawaimadhopur), Kumbhalgarh fort (Rajsamand) and Deeg palace (Bharatpur)- are ticketed.

  • Ten held in Rajasthan for lynching man over suspicion of cow smuggling

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Ten persons have been arrested for allegedly lynching a man on suspicion of cow smuggling, police said on Tuesday.

    A 25-year-old man was beaten to death and another seriously injured when a mob attacked them in Chittorgarh district on Sunday night while they were taking three oxen to Madhya Pradesh for farming purpose.

    “A case was registered against 19 persons and 10 of them have been arrested so far,” Circle Officer, Begun Rajendra Jain said.

    They were arrested on Monday night.

    He said the accused are local villagers, who on preliminary probe said that some people informed that cows were being smuggled and everyone started chasing the pick-up van.

    “When the vehicle was stopped, the mob thrashed them. Babu Bhil and Pintu Bhil were rushed to a hospital in critical condition where Babu Bhil succumbed to injuries,” he said.

  • Rajasthan MLA Ramila Khadiya booked for slapping head constable on duty

    By ANI
    BANSWARA: Independent MLA Ramila Khadiya was booked for allegedly slapping a head constable while he was on duty in Banswara on Sunday night.

    The head constable, Mahendra Nath told ANI that the incident occurred when he stopped Sunil, an acquaintance of the MLA, in an allegedly inebriated condition.

    “He abused me, grabbed me by my collar, and called up the MLA. She reached the spot and started abusing me. While we were talking, the MLA slapped me,” Nath said.

    Rejecting his version, Khadiya alleged that the constable was trying to hide the fact that he harassed people for money in the name of enforcing restrictions.

    She further added that Sunil was returning home after delivering medicines to his grandfather when the Nath stopped him and demanded money. “When Sunil declined to pay and called me…he started beating him up. I was on phone and could hear him cry for help”, she said.

    Sunil claimed that he was beaten with a lathi and has also filed an FIR against Nath.

    Reacting to the incident, Gulab C. Kataria, Leader of opposition (LoP) in Rajasthan Assembly said, “It’s his (constable) duty to enquire passersby and that’s why he stopped Ramila’s acquaintance, who later misbehaved. But her behaviour with him is unacceptable. Nobody has the right to manhandle anyone. This will demotivate police personnel”. 

  • Tribal youngster lynched in Rajasthan over suspicion of cow smuggling

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: In a shocking case in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district, a tribal youth was lynched and his friend badly thrashed by a group of people who suspected them of smuggling some cows and other bovine animals on Saturday-Sunday night.

    The two tribal youngsters, from the Bheel community, were taking some bovine animals to Madhya Pradesh when the group caught and thrashed them. Police have taken 7-8 persons in custody for interrogation. One of the youngsters has died in the hospital and the other one is seriously injured.

    The victim of the lynching was identified as 25-year-old Babu Bheel from Madhya Pradesh’s Achalpur. He was accompanied by his friend Pintu Bheel, who was also badly injured in the assault.

    Describing the horrific incident, Additional Director General of Police (Crime), Ravi Prakash Meharda said, “the incident occurred near Bhilkhanda village on the night of June 13-14.  Two men in Chittorgarh district were transporting some bovines to Madhya Pradesh when a mob attacked them. One of them died at the hospital while undergoing treatment while the other was seriously injured. A case of murder has been registered.”

    According to the Police, the victims were taking three oxen to their village in Madhya Pradesh from Begun town of Chittorgarh for agriculture work when a group of people hit them with sticks accusing them of smuggling cows. After the shocking incident, a large contingent of policemen, including senior officials are now camping in the area.  

    The IG Range of Udaipur Division, Satyaveer Singh said that all senior police officials have now reached the area and are keeping a tight vigil. “On suspicion that the tribal youngsters were smuggling cows to MP, a large unruly mob gathered in the area. They not only thrashed them brutally but also snatched their mobile and tore off the papers about the sale of the bovine animals. Once the police got to know, they reached the area and rushed the victims to the hospital where one of the tribal youths died. We are doing a detailed probe on this incident and soon the culprits will be arrested and strong action will be initiated against them,” IG Satyaveer Singh asserted.

  • Rajasthan lowers VAT on diesel for mining sector

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government on Monday decided to reduce the VAT on diesel for the mining sector in the state.

    Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved the draft notification to provide cheaper diesel with a view of providing relief to the mining sector businesses.

    According to the proposal of the state finance department, bulk purchase of diesel for commercial activities is done from outside the state due to the cheaper price of the fuel in the neighbouring states of Rajasthan.

    In the past, manufacturing industries have been given concession in the state value added tax (VAT) on purchase of diesel from oil marketing companies located in the state.

    In this sequence, the mining industry will also be given benefit of reduced VAT on buying diesel from the oil marketing companies located in Rajasthan, an official statement said.

    With this decision, the mining sector will get the benefit of purchasing diesel at lower rate in Rajasthan itself and the state government will get an additional revenue of Rs 108.84 crore.

  • Rajasthan: Rape accused, out on bail, arrested for killing victim

    By PTI
    JODHPUR: A man, out on bail in a rape case, was arrested on Monday in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district for allegedly stabbing to death the woman he had raped last year, police said.

    The accused had been pressuring the woman for withdrawal of the complaint against him since he was out on bail and stabbed her to death on Saturday night at her house in Nagani village in Sirohi district, ADG (Crime) Ravi Prakash Meharda said.

    The ADG confirmed the arrest of the accused Netram on Monday morning.

    “He had raped the victim and a case had been lodged against him in November 2020. He had been arrested by the police and had been in judicial custody for six months,” said the officer.

    The accused was the victim’s neighbour.

    She was a widow and had been working in a local anganwadi in the village.

    After her husband’s death, Netram allegedly raped her last year under the pretext of some help and a complaint of rape had been lodged by her against him.

    According to the police, Netram came out on bail in April and had been constantly threatening the victim to withdraw the case but she was not responding to his repeated calls.

    On Saturday night, he barged into her house and stabbed her to death, while she was sleeping.

    He also injured her younger sister, who also was present in the house, as she tried to save her sister.

    She raised an alarm, but Netram managed to escape from the spot.

  • Rajasthan govt to begin e-auction to mine sandstone to be used for Ram temple

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government will soon begin an online auction of a special pink sandstone variety, much sought after by builders including those constructing the Ram temple in Ayodhya, found in the Bansi Paharpur area of Bharatpur.

    A state government official Monday said putting the mining blocks on auction became possible after the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment gave an in-principle approval for converting 398 hectares of Bandh Baretha Wildlife Sanctuary land for mining sandstone.

    About 70 mining blocks will be developed in the area soon for mining of the pink sandstone which is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 500 crore for the state government, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Mines and Petroleum Subodh Agrawal said.

    It would enable legal mining in the area and sandstone would be made available for Ram temple in Ayodhya through legal channels, he said.

    Mining was officially banned in the area in 2016 but illegal operations continued and the Bansi Paharpur’s pink sandstone was available in the grey market.

    The special pink sandstone is much sought after by builders including those constructing the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

    The Dholpur variant of the stone is said to be no match to the Bansi Paharpur stone.

    ALSO READ | Ayodhya land deal row: BJP, RSS have made Ram temple a ‘business’, says SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar

    Agrawal said that due to the tireless efforts of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Bansi Paharpur mining area has been marked out of Wildlife Sanctuary area in March last year.

    He said the permission for diversion of 398 hectare area of Bansi Paharpur area was issued by the Union Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate on June 11.

    The ACS said that with the commencement of legal mining activities in this area, thousands of people will get direct and indirect employment.

    At the state level, the proposal to allow the mining special sandstone was cleared by a standing committee of the Rajasthan Wildlife Board in February, Authorities in the Congress-run Rajasthan had then denied that the move had anything to do with the Ram temple specifically.

    But Vishva Hindu Parishad leader in Ayodhya Triloki Nath Pandey had approved of reports that this ‘technical problem’ is now being sorted out.

    Thousands of tonnes of the pink sandstone mined in Bansi Paharpur have been sourced for the temple over the years, but much more is needed, he had said.

    There were concerns in Ayodhya that supplies of this stone with a unique pink hue would dry up.

    The supply of the stone took a hit after the Bharatpur administration seized 25 trucks loaded with illegally mined pink sandstone last September.

  • Rajasthan government announces financial package for children orphaned, women widowed by COVID

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government has devised a major scheme to provide financial help to COVID orphans and women who have been widowed due to the pandemic. The Rajasthan government has announced a financial relief package on Saturday for children who lost their parents to the coronavirus.

    Under this special package, announced by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, a provision of Rs 1 lakh has been made as immediate grant for children who lost their parents to COVID .

    In addition, COVID orphans will be provided a monthly assistance of Rs 2500 till these children reach the age of 18 years. Also a one-time  assistance of Rs 5 lakhs will be given to COVID orphans on completion of 18 years and they will be given free education till higher secondary besides other benefits under the Mukhyamantri Corona Bal Kalyan Yojna.

    Significantly, women who lost their husbands to the Corona infection will be given an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh and a pension of Rs 1500  per month under this financial relief package. In addition, children of these COVID-19 widows will be given a monthly assistance of one thousand rupees per child and 2,000 rupees a month for school books and dress will also be provided.

    The Rajasthan government will conduct a special survey in all 33 districts of the state to identify COVID orphans and widows. Additional director of the Child Rights department Reena Sharma remarked, “The NCPCR has asked for all information about such children to be put up on the Bal Swaraj portal. Through information from all districts, entries of over 700 COVID orphans have already been uploaded. In addition, we have information that there are another 3,000 children who have lost one parent to the COVID pandemic.”

    Over the past few months, The New Indian Express has been reflecting many stories about COVID orphans and there are several such stories from Rajasthan.

    Among the countless orphans of COVID-19 are Supriya (16) and Bindiya (13) who lost their father and mother in the space of just three days in April this year. COVID-19 first struck their 45-year old father Vijay Joshi on April 24. Three days later, their mother Ranjana’s condition also took a turn for the worse. After wailing endlessly for a few days, the sisters are now being taken care of by their uncle and Vijay’s elder brother Munna Joshi.

    The announcement of the package has brought great relief to Munna, who asserted, “This package has come as a huge relief for our family. It has ended nearly 50 per cent of our tension. Both girls were studying in a private English-medium school and we can now continue to educate them in the same school. Once they become 18 and get the additional 5 lakhs, it would be useful for their higher studies,” said Munna  who also thanked the TNIE report on COVID orphans for highlighting the issue.

    Child rights activist Vijay Goyal was also delighted over the package. He remarked, “Many states have provided help for COVID orphans but the Rajasthan package is really much better as it will take care of all needs of such unfortunate children till they turn adults.”

    “In addition, the help for COVID widows and their children is a most welcome initiative and will greatly help families who have lost their earning members to COVID crisis,” he added.

  • Extend GST exemption on Covid-related materials till March 22: Rajasthan minister

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal on Saturday demanded the exemption of all Covid-related goods and services, including its test kits, from the GST for fiscal 2021-22, The minister raised the demand in a meeting of the GST Council chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

    In the meeting, he also asked the Centre to release the GST compensation amount to Rajasthan at the earliest.

    The GST Council had already exempted the Covid-related materials like oxygen and its equipment, ventilators, remdesivir and other essential medicines, Covid testing kits, pulse oximeter etc from the GST till August 31, 2021. But the minister sought the exemption to be extended till March 31, 2022.

    Dhariwal said experts believe that the third wave of the pandemic may come in September-October. Therefore, the exemption should be extended till March 31, 2022, and, if needed, it should be continued even further, he added.

    Dhariwal also expressed disagreement over the charging of tax on coronavirus vaccines, saying it is completely wrong not to include the members of the Opposition in the formation of the Group of Ministers.

    He demanded from the council that the GST Secretariat should be made operational so that all issues are resolved in a time-bound manner.

    He also demanded from the Centre to release the outstanding GST compensation amount of Rs 4,635.29 crore for 2020-21.