Stormy start to Rajasthan Assembly session likely tomorrow
The business of the next sittings will be decided by the Business Advisory Committee to be held on Friday.
Unsettled property disputes with erstwhile royal families continue to haunt the government of Rajasthan, seven decades after the former princely states were absorbed in the Indian republic. A question on such disputed properties raised by Independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal recently created chaos in the assembly. The answer to his question, was however, denied on technical grounds.
"Many of these cases are under legal consideration and as per assembly rules such cases cannot be discussed at the assembly," said parliamentary affairs minister Rajendra Rathore. However, this did not satisfy members seeking information. They questioned the government on the Jaipur Development Authority’s attempt to attach a luxury hotel under possession of a former Jaipur royal family. "The government might not discuss the case but can brief the house on actions taken by the government" said an MLA from Sanganer.
Meanwhile, outside the assembly, Beniwal was more blatant in his attack, "The present government extends undue benefit and unfair settlement of such properties. A Khanna committee was constituted to resolve the issue, however the government wants to trade on it instead. They must provide us with details," he said.
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There are seven cases of property disputes under consideration of Rajasthan High Court and 18 cases have been pending in other courts. These properties are not only worth several hundred crores but also are of immense heritage value. The erstwhile Jaipur royal family and loyalist had protested against the state government when JDA attempted to take over one of the properties. They have also alleged that such actions were taken on the instructions of the government to put pressure on the royal family.
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