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By India Today News Desk: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday exuded confidence in coming to power in the state again.
Talking to reporters in Jaipur, Gehlot said, “We will form the government again in the state. We know that after the Karnataka elections are over, all forces of the BJP will come to Rajasthan. CM Mamata Banerjee defeated them (BJP) in Bengal and now they (BJP) will get a big defeat here.”
Meanwhile, in an embarrassment to the ruling Congress in Rajasthan, party leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday visited the protest site where BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena is sitting on a dharna with the family of a man who died by suicide recently. The former deputy chief minister called for “visible” justice for the man’s family without delay.
Pilot, who is involved in a tussle for power with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the state unit of the Congress, demanded an impartial and time-bound probe into the case after meeting the family members of the man at the dharna site near their home.
He also talked to Kirodi Lal Meena during his visit.
“A person from the ST community has died by suicide. It is a shock if someone’s life is lost. It is a very heart-wrenching incident. I talked to his father, brother and son, and they have said several things,” Pilot told reporters.
“The victim’s family should get justice. Justice should not be delayed and justice should also be visible,” he said.
When pointed out that the family members have said they feel an atmosphere of fear, Pilot said, “The family is speaking, so there must be pressure. I do not understand why the delay is happening. There is proof coming up. If the action is seen, then it will generate confidence in them,” he said.
Pilot said there are video statements and other proof that should be considered during the investigation.
“This is a very poor family and it is the responsibility of all of us, whoever is the accused, there should be a fair investigation. The family should believe that justice will be done,” he said.
During a meeting with officials later, Gehlot said the incident was “very sad” and district authorities should act promptly in protecting the poor from harassment of influential people, according to a statement.
WHAT IS THE CASE?
Ramprasad Meena, 38, hanged himself on Monday in a godown over an alleged land dispute.
In a video recorded before his death, he accused Cabinet Minister Mahesh Joshi and a few other people of creating problems for his family in connection with the land dispute and blamed them for his extreme step.
The family had initially refused to hand over the body to police for post-mortem examination unless the accused are arrested but they agreed to it on Thursday.
The postmortem was done in the evening but the family has not yet accepted the body, Additional District Magistrate (South) Mohammad Abubakr told PTI.
Efforts are being made to convince them, he added. The family has also sought compensation and a government job for a family member.
Kirodi Lal Meena has been a part of the dharna in Chandi ki Taksal in Subhash Chowk for the last three days.
He said the Meena community would collect a sum of Rs 50 lakh and would give it to the family members.
The BJP leader said Ramprasad Meena had gone to meet Joshi after his family did not get help from anywhere. He added that Ramprasad’s family members told him that Joshi insulted and pushed them.
“Due to the minister’s torture, he became depressed and embraced death,” the BJP leader alleged.
Joshi, the local MLA (from Hawa Mahal seat), denied the allegations, saying he did not misbehave with the family when they had come to meet him on April 13.
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