Tag: Rajasthan

Gehlot Meet Sonia

Gehlot To Visit Delhi, Meet Sonia

By LokMarg

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi here on Wednesday afternoon following the rebellion by his party lawmakers in the state, in the run-up to the Congress presidential poll.

Rajasthan Minister Pratap Khachariyawas said today that Gehlot who is arriving in the national capital today and will meet Sonia Gandhi.
Congress is currently grappling with the political crisis in the state over leadership change after Gehlot emerged as the top contender in the party’s presidential polls for which the process of the nomination has already begun.

The party had issued notices to three loyalists of Ashok Gehlot over their actions in the political crisis in Rajasthan. However, the chief minister was not named for disciplinary action in the report.

The show cause notices have been issued to Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) Chairman Dharmendra Rathore, the party’s chief whip Mahesh Joshi, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal.

AICC in charge Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier submitted a written report to Sonia Gandhi that disciplinary action should be taken against the three Gehlot loyalists.

Maken and Kharge, who were appointed observers for the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party had to return from Jaipur after they could not meet MLAs individually to ascertain their views. A “parallel meeting” was held by the loyalists of Ashok Gehlot who are opposed to Sachin Pilot being elevated to the post of the chief minister.

Maken termed the “parallel meeting” as indiscipline and did not agree to other demands of the MLAs and ministers seen close to Gehlot.

On Tuesday, Gehlot held an informal meeting with a few ministers and party MLAs at his residence in Jaipur, sources said.

They said Forest and Environment Minister Sukhram Bishnoi, Minister of State for Home Rajendra Yadav, Minorities Minister Saleh Mohammad, Sports Minister Ashok Chandna, and MLAs Madan Prajapat, Rafiq Khan, Amin Kagzi, Khushveer Jojawar, Amit Chachan, Jagdish Jangid were present in the meeting.

Sachin Pilot, a former Deputy Chief Minister of the State has also come to Delhi.

The nomination process for election to Congress next president will continue till September 30 and the election results will be declared on October 19.

Amid the crisis, some other names, apart from Gehlot, have emerged as possible presidential candidates. (ANI)

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Canada India

Canada: Don’t Travel To Areas In India Bordering Pak

By LokMarg

In what appears to be a bizarre travel advisory, Canada has advised its citizens to avoid all travel to areas in the states of Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan that share a border with Pakistan due to the “presence of landmines” and an “unpredictable security situation.”

“Avoid all travel to areas within 10 km of the border with Pakistan in the following states due to the unpredictable security situation and presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance: Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan,” the advisory states.
The travel advisory put out by the Canadian government on its website, which was last updated on September 27, also asks its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the “threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country.”

This advisory excludes traveling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh.

It also urges people to avoid non-essential travel to Assam and Manipur “due to the risk of terrorism and insurgency.”

Incidentally, India had on September 23 issued an advisory for Indian nationals and students in Canada to remain vigilant amid increasing incidents of crimes and anti-India activities in the country.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Indian missions in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to probe these crimes.

“There has been a sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-Indian activities in Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs and our High Commissions/Consulates General in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to investigate the said crimes and take appropriate action,” the MEA said in a statement.

The statement also stressed that “the perpetrators of these crimes have not been brought to justice so far in Canada.”

“In view of the increasing incidences of crimes as described above, Indian nationals and students from India in Canada and those proceeding to Canada for travel/education are advised to exercise due caution and remain vigilant,” the statement added.

The advisory also said Indian nationals and students from India in Canada may also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or the Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites, or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in.

“Registration would enable the High Commission and the Consulates General to better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any requirement or emergency,” the advisory said.

This advisory after India termed the so-called Khalistan referendum conducted by separatist groups as a “farcical exercise”. (ANI)

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Gehlot Informal Meeting

Gehlot Holds Informal Meeting With Some Ministers, MLAs

By LokMarg

Amid the political crisis in the state, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held an informal meeting with a few ministers and party MLAs at his residence here on Tuesday, sources said.

The sources said Forest and Environment Minister Sukhram Bishnoi, Minister of State for Home Rajendra Yadav, Minorities Minister Saleh Mohammad, Sports Minister Ashok Chandna, and MLAs Madan Prajapat, Rafiq Khan, Amin Kagzi, Khushveer Jojawar, Amit Chauhan, Jagdish Jangid were among those present.
The Congress is grappling with a political crisis in Rajasthan over leadership change after Gehlot emerged as the top contender in the party’s presidential polls, for which the process of nominations has already begun.

AICC in charge Ajay Maken and senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who were appointed observers for a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party could not meet MLAs individually to ascertain their views and a “parallel meeting” was held by loyalists of Ashok Gehlot who are opposed to Sachin Pilot being elevated to the post.

Maken termed the “parallel meeting” as indiscipline and did not agree to some other demands of MLAs and ministers seen close to Gehlot.

Maken and Kharge, who returned to Delhi from Jaipur on Monday, have given their written report to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Sachin Pilot, a former Deputy Chief Minister of State, has also come to Delhi.

The nomination process for election to Congress president will continue till September 30 and the results of the election will be declared on October 19. (ANI)

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Bringing Cong MLA

Sachin Pilot Denies Reports Of Bringing Cong MLAs Together

By LokMarg

Congress leader Sachin Pilot has denied media reports stating that he told the party high command that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot should not remain in office if he decides to contest the party presidential poll.

It was earlier reported quoting the sources that Pilot had told the high command that it is his responsibility to bring the MLAs together.
“Congress MLA Sachin Pilot has told the Congress high command that Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot should not remain CM if he decides to contest for the party president post & that it is his responsibility to bring MLAs together,” the sources had said.

Refuting the reports, the Congress leader said that says he has spoken neither with the party’s high command nor with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.

“Am afraid this is false news being reported”,” he tweeted.

Notably, Pilot is being seen as the successor of Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan which is engulfed by a political crisis triggered apparently by Gehlot agreeing to file his nomination in the Congress presidential polls and wanting a successor of his choice as CM in Rajasthan.

With party observers slamming some actions of loyalists of Chief Minister Gehlot, sources said the decision on issuing show cause notices to miffed MLAs, who have been vocal in public, will be taken after interim party chief Sonia Gandhi looks into the report by the observers sent to the state.

“Status-quo to be maintained till Congress president election nominations. Decision on issuing of show cause notices to miffed MLAs, vocal in public will be taken after interim chief takes action on a report by observers,” a source said.

Pilot had attended the CLP meeting called in Jaipur recently along with the MLAs of his camp in the presence of Central observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken. The MLAs of the Gehlot camp demanded that the next chief minister be chosen from the MLAs who stood by the party when Pilot allegedly revolted in 2020 against the Gehlot-led government.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan cabinet minister Shanti Dhariwal on Monday lashed out at Congress’ state in-charge Ajay Maken alleging that he was part of a “conspiracy” to remove Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Dhariwal, a Gehlot loyalist who had held a meeting of MLAs on Sunday to oppose Sachin Pilot’s possible elevation to the CM post, took a veiled swipe at Pilot and said that Rajasthan MLAs will not sit through and tolerate if traitors are being rewarded.

“It was a 100 per cent conspiracy to remove the CM (Ashok Gehlot) and the general secretary incharge was a part of it. I am not talking about anyone else, no charge on Kharge but only the General Secretary incharge,” said Dhariwal.

He further said that disgruntled lawmakers of Rajasthan asked him to “listen to their voice”.

“A general secretary is himself canvassing to make such people chief minister who betrayed the party and because of it, MLAs are angry and disgruntled. MLAs asked me to listen to their voice. They want someone from 102 MLAs who huddled together to stay with Congress for over 34 days (in 2020) to be made CM,” he added.

A legislative party meeting was scheduled on Sunday evening at the residence of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the presence of the observers, which was attended by Sachin Pilot and his camp MLAs, the Gehlot loyalists had held a meeting with Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal at his residence, following which over 90 MLAs had submitted their resignations to Speaker CP Joshi.

Earlier today, Congress MLAs supporting Sachin Pilot for Chief Minister’s post arrived at his residence in Jaipur.

“The party’s top leadership is restructuring the organisation for the 2023 elections here. Top leadership will decide (CM face),” said MLA Khiladi Lal Bairwa. (ANI)

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Congress Wokers

Time For Cong Workers To Spill Blood To Save Govt Against BJP: Khachariyawas

By LokMarg

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot loyalist and state cabinet Minister Pratap Khachariyawas on Monday said that the Congress workers are attempting to save their party and have to be prepared to “spill blood on the roads” against the BJP which he alleged, wants to “topple” the state government.

The remarks of the Congress leader came amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.
Speaking to ANI, Khachariyawas said, “The BJP wants to topple the Rajasthan government. I have told Ashok Gehlot that it is important to save the government, you have to perform witchcraft. The BJP will eye Rajasthan to divert attention from inflation. They did it in Maharashtra. If we don’t respond with courage, there will be fights on the streets. The Congress workers will have to spill blood on the roads. I had said it earlier to Gehlot that the BJP is prepared and there is a conspiracy underway against the government.”

He claimed that the central agencies will hit the streets of Rajasthan.

“The ED and CBI will hit the streets of Rajasthan. Congress workers will have to hit the roads, then I will also come. We will have an equal fight. If the BJP uses stick, we will respond. If they fire at us, we will respond. But if MLAs want to save government against BJP’s conspiracy then they should be heard,” he said.

The leader, however, denied any factionalism in the Congress party and said that all MLAs have the right to express their opinion.

“There is no factionalism in Congress. Every MLA has the right to put forth his view on democracy. If the MLAs united at the residence of the parliamentary affairs minister and said something, they did not commit any crime. They were the same MLAs who saved the government on the call of Sonia Gandhi. There is no opposition of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot,” the Congress leader said.

Responding to Ajay Maken’s statement on issuing notices to rebel MLAs for their “undisciplined move”, Khachariyawas said, “If any notice is issued, we will respond to it.”

Earlier today, Congress leader and observer for Rajasthan, Ajay Maken dubbed the “unofficial” meeting conducted by state minister Shanti Dhariwal with the rebel MLAs of the Ashok Gehlot camp an “indisciplined move”, while also stating that the party has never allowed “conditional resolutions” to take place, as against the demands by the group.

Maken said that Shanti Dhariwal, Mahesh Joshi and Pratap Singh met them as the representatives of the MLAs and put three conditions which also included not holding a one-on-one meeting with the observers.

A legislative party meeting was scheduled on Sunday evening at the residence of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the presence of the observers, which was attended by Sachin Pilot and his camp MLAs, however, the Gehlot loyalists had held a meeting with Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal at his residence, following which over 90 MLAs had submitted their resignations to Speaker CP Joshi.

Pilot, is being seen as the successor of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who is all set to contest the Congress president election scheduled on October 17. The Rajasthan deputy chief minister late last night conducted a second round of meeting with the AICC observers.

The Gehlot loyalists want someone from their own camp to be chosen as the next Chief Minister, instead of Pilot, who, according to them, had revolted against his own party back in 2020. (ANI)

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How Amla Ruia revived 100 drought-inflicted villages of Rajasthan 

By LokMarg


Idea
Amla Ruia originally hails from Mumbai, but the plight of people in Rajasthan drove her to move here and take up a cause. “I was aware about the alternate solutions provided by the government to people. Government used to provide water through water tankers, which was not a sustainable solution. I had an idea in my mind that I knew would change the face of affected area,” said Amla Ruia.

She decided to construct check dams in this area to make water flow better and to provide almost equal amount of water to entire village. She explained: “Rajasthan farmers are among the poorest in the country. Using rain water harvesting technology to alleviate the situation seemed like a good choice. It was important to involve the local community and engage them to make our model more sustainable.”

Implementation
She founded a group called Aakar Charitable Trust to build check dams (temporary dams) for villages to provide regular water. With these dams, water was stored in large dam, but the entire process was more cost effective. Her first success project was in the village of Mandawar, where two check dams were constructed, which provided water to the villagers on a regular basis.

Her first project in Mandawar village showed great success and the farmers managed to earn as much as Rs. 12 crore within a year with the help of two check dams constructed by the Trust. After that there was no looking back. Aakar Charitable Trust has constructed 200 check dams in 100 villages of Rajasthan so far, which has helped more than 2 lakh people to lead a comfortable life. The water availability has helped them earn a combined income of Rs. 300 crore per year through their farming, animal husbandry, dairy and other related works.

Effect
The water from the dam is sufficient to supply regular irrigation to crops for an entire year. The farmers, who could barely grow one crop a year, are now able to grow even three crops. “For the first time, villagers managed to grow rabi crop along with a few vegetables,” she adds
With no drought, villagers are having better harvests with the irrigation facilities and have also started to indulge in animal husbandry. Today many people are keeping cattle in their houses as they have enough water and fodder for animals. With all these positive changes, the per capita income has also increased in these villages. People now have more money to buy milk, ghee and whoa, which was till now considered  to be luxurious product.

With their active participation in regional economy, state government is also looking at providing better facilities like roads, electricity, mobile towers etc. Every household has a motorbike and few of them have also purchased tractors.

Biggest issue of the country is migration; and this area has proved that migration can be stopped if facilities are being provided at the door step.  “Regular availability of water has controlled migration to cities like Delhi and Lucknow. Now, we have facilities that an urban family would dream of. All this was not possible without support of Amla didi,” a villager expressed.

What’s next

Amla and her team want to expand their efforts to other states as well. Much work has already been accomplished in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The organisation is now extending its efforts in the backward Dantevada district in Chhattisgarh.

Salman Khan acquitted in Chinkara poaching case- No one killed the animal

By Priyanka


Just like how no-one killed the people sleeping on the pavement of Bandra, nobody seems to have killed the mute Blackbuck in Rajasthan too. Since the court verdict has come in the favour of Salman Khan, now he can breath easy by giving out the message that celebrities indeed are above the law.
Salman Khan will always remember the year 2015-16 as the golden years of his life. This is not just because he had the most successful movies in these years, but, all the long-pending cases against him concluded in his favour.
The Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur has acquitted Salman Khan in two cases of poaching Chinkara. This has come as a surprise for many as the ruling has overturned a lower court verdict in the case which was pending for the past 17-years. The actor had challenged the lower court’s orders that had handed him one and five years’ imprisonment in the two cases. The High Court on May 13, reserved the decision after completing the hearing in the matter.

The actor had spent eight days in the Jodhpur central jail in 2006 after being found guilty. But, the ruling has clearly acquitted him in the case.  The verdict has come as a huge relief after he the court gave a verdict in his favour, last year, in the hit-and-run case.
Chinkaras, or Indian gazelles, are a protected species and hunting these animals is banned. Moreover, in Rajasthan it is one of the revered species and the local tribes in the area were up in the arms when Salman was found shooting the animal. This was in the year 1998, when Salman and seven others from the film fraternity including  Neelam, Tabu and Saif Ali Khan were accused of killing a blackbuck and a chinkara in two separate incidents. One of the animals was killed at Bhawad on the outskirts of Jodhpur on September 26, 1998, and the other at Ghoda Farms on September 28, 1998. At that time, all these actors were shooting for Sooraj Barjatya’s family drama, ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’.
The actor was shooting for the film Hum Saath Saath Hain at that time. Two cases against Khan – black-buck hunting and possessing illegal arms – are still being heard by trial courts in the state. But, with this verdict it is clear now that Salman is now a free man.