Dotasra Counters Meena: Challenges Minister to Order Probe into Seed Scam

The political landscape of Rajasthan is witnessing an intense verbal battle between Cabinet Minister Kirori Lal Meena and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Govind Singh Dotasra, while responding to the allegations leveled by Meena, Dotasra on Wednesday launched a scathing counter-attack, challenging the minister to write a letter to the Chief Minister for a comprehensive investigation into his own department. Dotasra maintained that he's ready for any probe and noted that the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) has already provided a clarification on the matters being raised, while he further remarked that Meena's act of threatening the Chief Minister only exposes his own political weakness.

The Seed Corporation Bribery Scandal

Addressing the accusations, Dotasra used the proverb "the thief scolding the constable" to describe Meena's stance. He highlighted the bribery scandal in the Seed Corporation where a sum of 2 crore 43 lakh rupees was seized. Dotasra pointed out that the minister himself admitted that the individuals providing him with inputs were committing thefts behind his back. "These people were caught with 2 crore 43 lakh rupees by your own government, not by me," Dotasra stated. He questioned why the minister, who claims to be staunchly honest, has not spoken a single word about this theft occurring within his department. He alleged that around 1200 raids were conducted by the minister, involving Jugal Kishore and other members of the depot, and questioned how much money was collected under the guise of these raids or to settle the actions taken during them.

Allegations of a 500 Crore Scam

Dotasra further alleged that a massive scam worth 500 crore rupees has taken place in the seed and fertilizer business. He stated that it's the minister's responsibility to ensure no allegations are leveled against him, and That's why, he should have proactively asked the Chief Minister to conduct an investigation. The Rajasthan Congress President also questioned why there has been no Enforcement Directorate (ED) action against the minister's department despite the recovery of 2 crore 43 lakh rupees. He mentioned that while the minister was calling for ED raids on the opposition, his own department's conduct warrants similar scrutiny.

The Sikar FIR and Jugal Kishore's Role

The PCC Chief brought up an FIR filed in Sikar against individuals named Sandeep and Rohitashw, who allegedly posed as the minister's OSD to demand money. Dotasra claimed that when these two were in Sikar, Jugal Kishore, who was caught red-handed, was also with them. He stated that Jugal Kishore even accompanied them to the police station, while according to Dotasra, Jugal Kishore stayed in a hotel for 2 days and visited the SP office, claiming he had arranged a call from the minister to ensure the FIR was lodged. Dotasra dismissed Meena's various allegations regarding RAS and OBC issues, stating that the government is free to investigate through any agency it chooses.

Clarification on Family and OBC Rules

Regarding the allegations against his family and children, Dotasra clarified that the RPSC had already provided a clarification to the government in 2021. He explained that the OBC rules have remained the same since 1999, as established by both the Government of India and the Government of Rajasthan. He challenged the government to investigate if anyone has used false certificates or illegal means to secure a job. Dotasra suggested that Meena is raising these issues after 5 years because he took Dotasra's criticism of his department personally. He concluded by criticizing Meena for warning the Chief Minister not to cross the "Laxman Rekha," calling it a sign of weakness.