Raj Minister Meena engaged in two-pronged political conflict with Congress, state ACB

Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Dr Kirodi Lal Meena was simultaneously engaged in a bizarre two-pronged conflict with the rival Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of his own state government.

Meena, known for his approach akin to a social crusader, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Tuesday demanding that an FIR be lodged against Dotasra and his close relative Ramesh Poonia for submitting “fake” non creamy layer OBC certificates for their wards seeking selection in state services.

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Dr Meena said that Dotasra’s son, besides other kin, was selected in the RAS and allied services examination allegedly through favouritism and nepotism.

Dotasra on Wednesday refuted the charges, saying “The Minister is free to have the matter probed by an agency of his government’s choice, but he should be ready to resign if the probe negates the allegation. He said that certificates of non creamy layer OBC class, submitted by them were in order and valid.

A couple of days ago, the Minister stormed into the ACB headquarters here to assert his innocence in a case involving the recovery of Rs 2.44 crore from the house of a State Seeds Corporation Director and from the possession of his 4 associates about a fortnight ago.

Dotasra and other Congress leaders presented it as a deed and fertilizer scam, saying the accused in this case are persons close to the Minister. He alleged that Director Jugal Kishore Bishnoi and his associates extorted this money as a bribe from various firms and companies.

The Congress leader sought clarification from Dr Meena on this cash seizure. “Bishnoi is known to the minister who recommended him to the state government for nomination as director in the state seeds corporation,” he asserted, adding that the Minister should clarify his position on his connection with Bishnoi, his gang and their activities.

Meanwhile, the ACB has reportedly mentioned the suspicious role of a doctor and a minister in the case. This had enraged Meena to drive to the ACB head quarters to convey his discontentment over allegations/ comments made against him.

The Minister had held, “If I am guilty, arrest me or make due clarifications giving the cleanchit”.

The verbal duel between Minister Meena and Congress leader Dotasra has intermittently been witnessed in the state for almost five years since the previous Congress regime in which the latter was the Education Minister.