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Kirodi Lal Meena has been in a constant tussle with the state government and the party over handling of key issues, particularly those related to corruption and transparency.
Rajasthan minister Kirodi Lal Meena. (File)
Rajasthan minister and senior BJP leader Kirodi Lal Meena has leveled grave charges of “snooping on him and tapping his phone” against his own government led by chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
The state Agriculture Minister claimed that the state’s CID was keeping a tab on him, but he was not afraid as he had nothing to hide.
While addressing a gathering in Jaipur, Meena said, “I was hoping that things would change and that when we come to power, we will crack down on the corrupt. The issues on which I protested against the previous (Congress) government, and because of which you supported us and we formed the government, work was not done on those issues (under the current BJP government).”
On Thursday, he cornered the state government at a public event at Amagarh temple in Jaipur. Meena said he is not going to be afraid saying, “Earlier, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot-led government had also done the same with me. But he had dodged everyone.”
The previous Ashok Gehlot government had been rocked by phone tapping allegations with Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat lodging an FIR against Gehlot’s then Officer on Special Duty Lokesh Sharma and others for allegedly tapping his phone.
Meena has been in a constant tussle with the state government and the party over handling of key issues, particularly those related to corruption and transparency.
He has been at the forefront in highlighting alleged irregularities in the recruitment of sub-inspectors to the state police in September 2021 as well as in other job entrance exams held during the previous Congress government.
He cited the arrest of 50 fake police officers and claimed that when he suggested the cancellation of certain exams due to irregularities, his request was ignored by the government.
“The government did not heed my advice, and instead, similar actions are being taken as in the previous regime,” he added, referring to alleged corrupt practices.
Meena had resigned after losing the Dausa seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but the government did not accept it.
He had also skipped the last two Cabinet meetings and has not been attending the legislative assembly sessions. Meena is also absent from the ongoing Budget Session of the state assembly.
(With inputs from agencies)
