Rajasthan Assembly Approves Development Grants Amid Controversy

The Rajasthan Assembly passed grant demands for the Tribal Area Development and Social Justice and Empowerment Departments by voice vote. Tribal Area Development Minister Babulal Kharari highlighted new schemes and initiatives. Controversy arose when Congress MLAs objected to a comment by Social Justice Minister Avinash Gehlot, leading to a walkout.

The Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday approved the grant demands for the Tribal Area Development Department and Social Justice and Empowerment Department via a voice vote.

During the debate on the grant demand, Tribal Area Development Minister Babulal Kharari emphasized the state government's rapid rollout of key projects and new initiatives. He mentioned that an 'Atlas' is being created to evaluate community forest rights in tribal areas to facilitate development through community forest right leases.

Kharari also announced the introduction of the Govind Guru Tribal Area Development Scheme aimed at approving development work in community forest rights areas. Following discussions, the grant demands were passed by voice vote.

Similarly, the grant demands for the Social Justice and Empowerment Department were approved by voice vote. However, a comment by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Avinash Gehlot sparked objections from Congress MLAs, who deemed his remarks unparliamentary and demanded their removal. Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani assured that any unparliamentary remarks would be struck from the record, but this did not prevent opposition members from staging a walkout after intense sloganeering.