‘Introspect about crimes against women in Rajasthan’: Minister sacked after Manipur comment

A Rajasthan minister has been sacked on Friday a few hours after he said in the assembly that the Congress government should ‘introspect’ about the crimes against women in the state ‘instead of focusing on Manipur’.

Junior Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha was removed from the Council of Ministers based on the recommendation by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, a Raj Bhawan statement said. The sacking of the minister was confirmed after Governor Kalraj Mishra accepted the Chief Minister’s recommendation.

Rajendra Singh Gudha held the post of Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

‘We have failed to provide security to women’: Sacked Rajasthan minister

During a discussion on the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guarantee Bill 2023 in the state assembly, MLAs from the ruling Congress party raised the issue of violence in Manipur.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking on the issue of the viral video coming out of Manipur detailing the sexual assault on two women, caused an uproar from Congress ministers by tagging ‘Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh’ while condemning the Manipur incident.

Similarly, Gudha raised the issue of rising crimes against women in Rajasthan, much to the chagrin of Congress assembly members.

“The truth is that we [Rajasthan government] 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,” Gudha said.

Gudha was a part of Gehlot’s party until July 2020, when he switched allegiance to the BJP.

Gudha’s comments were seized upon by the BJP members. Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore of the BJP said, “As per Article 164(2) of the Constitution, the government works on the basis of collective responsibility. The Constitution states that when one minister speaks, it means the entire government is speaking. The minister has exposed the government. I congratulate him, but it is a shameful thing.”

“All my praise is with Rajendra Singh Gudha because he courageously conveyed the truth. But the Gehlot government could not accept this truth…neither women are safe in Rajasthan nor a person or a Minister who raises a voice against the atrocities against women in Rajasthan…” Union Minister & BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said.

After his removal from the assembly was confirmed, Gudha said, “I speak the truth always, that is who I am… I got punished for speaking the truth.

“I was elected by the women of Udaipurwati [Gudha’s constituency] so that I can protect them and uphold their dignity, but day by day, crimes against women are increasing in Rajasthan…this state has become number one when it comes to crimes against women…we need to retrospect or else how will we face people? This was all I said…

“I did not commit any crime by making such a statement… I left no stone unturned to strengthen the state government. I always stood by Ashok Gehlot whenever there was a problem.”