Jaipur: Rajasthan minister Rajendra Gudha has been sacked hours after raising questions in the Assembly on his own government’s failure in controlling crimes against women, even as his colleagues in the Congress were raising the Manipur violence issue.
The incident occurred merely a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress and anger over a disturbing video showing the humiliation of two women in Manipur, where he also mentioned Rajasthan in connection to the matter.
A statement from Raj Bhawan confirmed that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had recommended the expulsion of Minister of State Rajendra Singh Gudha from the Council of Ministers, a recommendation swiftly accepted by Governor Kalraj Mishra, leading to immediate effect.
“The truth is that we have failed to provide security to women. The way atrocities against women have gone up in Rajasthan, we should introspect instead of raising the issue of Manipur,” Mr. Gudha said in the Assembly.
The Leader of the Opposition, Rajendra Rathore of the BJP, seized upon Mr. Gudha’s comments to criticise the state government. Rathore pointed out that, according to Article 164(2) of the Constitution, the government functions based on collective responsibility. Therefore, when one minister speaks, it reflects the views of the entire government. Rathore congratulated Gudha for speaking out but deemed it a shameful revelation.
Meanwhile, Union minister Gajendra Shekhawat welcomed Gudha’s remarks, saying, “At least someone showed the courage to speak the truth.”
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