Rajasthan Turmoil: Rebel Cong MLA moves HC seeking quashing of SOG FIR against him

23:45 July 28

Congress MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma

Rebel Cong MLA moves HC seeking quashing of SOG FIR against him

Jaipur: Rebel Congress MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma on Tuesday moved the Rajasthan High Court for quashing of an FIR lodged against him after the surfacing of some audio tapes in one of which he is allegedly heard talking to a Union minister for toppling the Gehlot government through horse-trading.

The MLA, who is in Sachin Pilot camp, moved the court alternatively demanding the transfer of the investigation into the case to the National Investigation Agency from the Special Operation Group of the Rajasthan police.

The SOG had registered the FIR against Sharma on July 17. 

17:45 July 28

BJP leader files defamation case against Congress leader Ashok Saini

The Bharatiya Janata Party filed a defamation case against Congress worker Rohan Gupta on the basis of a tweet from the official handle of his party.

Rohan Gupta is the chairman of the IT cell and social media department of the Congress party.

BJP state convenor Surendra Singh Naruka and Yuva Morcha state president Ashok Saini said that the tweet was posted on Congress' official Twitter handle on July 26.

It targetted the BJP over its dealing with the coronavirus crisis and said that the BJP is focussed on attaining power.

15:36 July 28

Raj govt sends revised proposal to governor seeking assembly session

The Rajasthan government on Tuesday forwarded a revised recommendation to Governor Kalraj Mishra for calling an assembly session from July 31 after the Cabinet discussed the points raised by the governor on the issue.

The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

"The revised note was forwarded to the Raj Bhawan on Tuesday after approval from the Cabinet," official sources said.

They said the government has not mentioned in the note whether it wants to seek vote of confidence in the assembly session.

They said the Cabinet has maintained the same date of July 31 for holding the session.

14:57 July 28

BSP to file a plea in Rajasthan High Court tomorrow against the merger of six BSP MLAs in the state with Congress party.

13:43 July 28

BSP whip to MLAs: Priyanka Gandhi says it is clean chit to those who murdered democracy

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday took a veiled dig at the BSP, alleging that the whip issued by it to its MLAs in Rajasthan is a clean chit to those who "murdered" democracy and the Constitution.

The BSP on Sunday issued a whip to six MLAs, who had left the party to join the Congress last year, to vote against the ruling party in the state in case of a trust motion in the Assembly.

"Undeclared spokespersons of the BJP have issued a whip in support of the BJP. But, this is not a whip but a clean chit to those who murder democracy and the Constitution," she said in a tweet in Hindi.

13:14 July 28

Rajasthan state cabinet meeting, which was underway at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence, has now concluded.

13:13 July 28

In view of recent results of COVID-19 tests conducted in Rajasthan High Court, it is notified that the judicial work at Principal Seat of HC, Jodhpur shall remain suspended for today: Registrar General, Rajasthan High Court

11:43 July 28

Taking a dig at Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra, Senior advocate Kabil Sibal asked him if he has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution and the or to uphold the political interests of the BJP?

"Has Kalraj Mishra: Taken an oath to uphold the Constitution and the Laws Or To uphold the political interests of the BJP? Is the Rajasthan High Court not obliged to follow the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court Or Is there some other law that binds it?," his wrote in a tweet.

11:30 July 28

BJP MLA files fresh plea in HC challenging speaker's decision on BSP MLAs joining Cong

BJP MLA Madan Dilawar on Tuesday filed a fresh writ petition in the Rajasthan High Court challenging the decision of the state assembly speaker to reject his complaint over six BSP MLAs joining the Congress.

The high court on Monday dismissed Dilawar's writ petition as "having become infructuous" as the speaker had passed an order on the complaint.

In the petition, he had questioned speaker's inaction on his complaint which he had filed in March this year, asking for the BSP MLAs to be disqualified from the membership of the Rajasthan Assembly as they had incurred disqualification under para 2 of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

In the fresh plea, the MLA on Tuesday challenged the validity, legality and correctness of the order passed by the speaker on July 24 on the complaint.

Dilawar alleged that he was not heard by the speaker while taking a decision.

11:28 July 28

BSP leaders should vote against Gehlot or get expelled from party: BSP chief Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati said on Tuesday that her party has asked the 6 MLAs, who are elected to Rajasthan Assembly on the symbol of BSP, to vote against Congress in any proceedings to be held during Rajasthan Assembly Session. If they don't do so, their party membership will be cancelled.

"In Rajasthan, after elections results, BSP gave unconditional support of all its 6 MLAs to Congress. Unfortunately, CM Gehlot, out of his malicious intent & to damage BSP, merged them with Congress unconstitutionally. He did the same even in his last tenure," said BSP Chief Mayawati on Tuesday.

She said that BSP could have gone to the court earlier too but we were looking for a time to teach Congress party and CM Ashok Gehlot a lesson. Now the party have decided to go to the Court and is even ready to approach the Supreme Court.

"Today, law & order situation is worsening in the state, criminals are ruling Uttar Pradesh. If govt wants to improve the situation, then UP CM, without any hesitation, should learn from BSP. I governed UP for 4 terms, during which the law & order situation was stable," she added.

She further targetted the Congress party on the merger of BSP MLAs, calling it unconstitutional, immoral and against people's mandate.

"They're now raising a hue & cry. The saying 'ulta chor kotwal ko daante' fits here," she said.

11:10 July 28

Audiotape case: Rebel Cong MLA moves HC seeking quashing of SOG FIR against him

Ashok Gehlot

Jaipur (Rajasthan): A cabinet meeting began at the Rajasthan chief minister's residence here on Tuesday to discuss points raised by the governor for calling a state assembly session.

Chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the meeting was called for discussing the points which were raised by Governor Kalraj Mishra on Monday.

The governor on Monday returned the Rajasthan Cabinet's recommendation for calling an assembly session from July 31, saying that a 21-day notice should be given for calling the session.

He also asked the state government to act on other suggestions and submit the file again.

The governor has returned the cabinet's recommendation twice.

(With inputs from PTI)