Rajasthan Politics : Phone Tapping Controversy; BJP Issues Show-Cause Notice to Kirodi Lal Meena

Jaipur, February 11: In the ongoing phone tapping controversy, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajasthan unit president, Madan Rathore, has issued a show-cause notice to cabinet minister Dr. Kirodi Lal Meena. The notice seeks a response within three days regarding allegations of anti-party activities and indiscipline.

The controversy erupted after Kirodi Lal Meena accused his own government of espionage and phone tapping during an event at the Amagarh Temple in Jaipur. He claimed that his phone was being tapped and his activities were being closely monitored.

Political Uproar Over Meena’s Allegations

Meena’s statements triggered a political storm in Rajasthan, leading to an uproar in the state assembly. The opposition capitalized on the controversy, demanding answers from the Chief Minister and staging strong protests. They framed the issue as internal discord within the BJP-led government, while the BJP leadership dismissed the allegations as baseless.

Notice Highlights Party’s Stand on the Issue

The show-cause notice, issued by state BJP chief Madan Rathore, outlines the party’s concerns:

• Party Membership & Responsibilities: The notice reminds Meena that he is an elected BJP MLA from the Sawai Madhopur constituency and a minister in the Rajasthan government.
• Disciplinary Violation: It states that his public remarks and accusations have tarnished the party’s image and violated the BJP’s code of conduct.
• Unverified Claims: The notice categorically rejects Meena’s allegations, calling them false and misleading.
• Directive from BJP National Leadership: It mentions that BJP’s national president considers this a case of indiscipline under the party’s constitution.

Meena has been directed to submit his explanation within three days. Failure to respond will be interpreted as an acceptance of the charges.

Meena’s Allegations Against His Own Government

Reiterating his claims, Meena had stated at the Amagarh Temple event that his phone was being tapped and he was under government surveillance. He alleged that similar tactics were used in the past but he had managed to evade them.

He further claimed that his actions against corruption prompted the government to monitor him closely. Referring to his exposé of fraudulent police officers, he said, “50 fake inspectors were arrested, yet when I demanded the cancellation of the examination, my plea was ignored. Instead, the CID was deployed against me, and phone tapping began.”

Implications of the Controversy

The controversy has deepened political tensions in Rajasthan, raising questions about internal discord within the ruling BJP. With Meena being a senior leader and vocal critic of corruption, his allegations have put the government in a challenging position. The response from the BJP and the next course of action following Meena’s explanation will be crucial in determining the political fallout of this issue.