Rajasthan: As MLAs shift base, Jaisalmer is new political capital; BJP attacks Gehlot government
As the Rajasthan ruling MLAs have shifted base to Jaisalmer and are working from there, the BJP took to the microblogging website Twitter to attack the Ashok Gehlot's Congress government.
FollowJaisalmer: Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Rajasthan, the state government shifted its base to Jaisalmer and has now started its work from there. In Jaisalmer’s Gorbhand palace, minister for energy BD Kalla has asked for his department’s files to be transferred there and he started his work.
Forest minister Sukhram Bishnoi called for a meeting of his officers via video conferencing, mining minister Promod Bhaya and minority affairs minister Mohammed Sahit along with other ministers completed their pending work while staying in Jaisalmer.
Meanwhile, taking to Twitter, the BJP is trending the hashtag #बाड़े_में_सरकार (government within fence) and demanding that the ministers should be among the people to serve.
After reaching Jaisalmer on Sunday (August 2), chief minister Ashok Gehlot called for a meeting of all the ministers late at night. Before this, he had raised the issue of moth infestation at the Jaisalmer airport and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare it as a national disaster.
At Suryagrah hotel and Gorbhand palace, 91 ministers other than Gehlot, are staying. There are 13 women ministers among them. Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on Monday. But the festival will be celebrated within the confinements of the hotel. The ministers have been informed that neither should they step outside nor should their family members visit them.
Between the political crisis and the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Gehlot has made two big announcements.
The Gujjars and five other castes included in the Most Backward Classes (MBC) have been given 5% reservation in the Rajasthan Judicial Service. The Indira Rasoi (Kitchen) plan will start in the state from August 20. Under the scheme, the needful will be served fresh and healthy food for Rs 8.
Under MBC reservation, the Gurjars, the Raika-Rebaris, the Gadiya-Lohars, the Banjaras, and the Gadaria classes will now have a provision of 5% reservation in all the recruitments in the state. Previously, the Rajasthan Judicial Service had been kept out of this reservation system.
Gehlot said the amendment in Rajasthan Judicial Service Rules, 2010, has been approved by the state Cabinet. The 358 Indira Rasois (kitchens) will be opened in all the 213 bodies of the state at places like railway stations, bus stands, hospitals, junctions, where more people are present. The food served in these kitchens will have a menu of 100 grams of dal, 100 grams of vegetables, 250 grams of chapati in each plate. Gehlot added that the state government will spend a sum of Rs 100 crore on this scheme.
The urban development minister Shanti Dhariwal said that the kitchen service will provide meals twice a day and the meals will be offered at discounted rates. The state government will give a grant of Rs. 12 per plate.
