Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday dismissed Minister of State for Soldiers’ Welfare Rajendra Gudha, hours after his remarks in the State Assembly, drawing parallels between the sexual violence in Manipur and the alleged atrocities against women in Rajasthan. Mr. Gudha, considered a loyalist of former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, has been criticising his own government on different issues.
Mr. Gudha said during the debate on the Bill on minimum guaranteed income that the Congress government should pay attention to providing security to women in the State in view of atrocities against them having increased. “Instead of raising the issue of Manipur, we should introspect about our own performance,” he said.
A communique from Raj Bhavan on Friday night said that Governor Kalraj Mishra had accepted a recommendation of Mr. Gehlot to dismiss Mr. Gudha with immediate effect. Mr. Gudha held the charge as Minister of State for Soldiers’ Welfare (independent), Home Guard and Civil Defence, and Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.
