The issue of illegal allotment of mines and alleged corruption in Pre-Teacher Education Test (PTET) in Jodhpur rocked the state Assembly on Friday.
Opposition accused that state government of allotment of mines just before the scheduled announcement of new mining policy by the Union government, which resulted in a loss of Rs 2000 crore to the state exchequer.
Another legislator accused the state government of massive corruption in PTET in Jodhpur University.
Earlier in the day, Congress legislator Govind Dotasara alleged that when the Union government was about to come up with a new mining policy involving allotment of mines through auction, the state government deliberately allotted the mines in haste.
“Normally around 70-80 mines are allotted in a year but the state government allotted around 650 mines in just two months. The eagerness to allot mines before the new mining policy clearly reflects the intentions of state government,” said Govind Dotasra, Congress legislator.
These mines were allotted in Chittorgarh and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan, Dostara added.
Mining minister Raj Kumar Rinwa was to reply on these allegations, but Health minister Rajendra Rathore defended the government, leading to a ruckus in the House.
BJP countered the allegations saying that allotment was done through a transparent process which can be tabled in the House any time. Moreover, BJP leaders informed the House that allotment process of these mines was initiated during the previous Congress government in the state.
In another instance, BJP legislator Joga Ram alleged that Jodhpur University has generated 95.5 crore through PTET. Due to irregularities in PTET, it can be said that most of the amount raised is through corrupt practices, Ram alleged.
State Education minister Kalicharan Saraf replied that the same issue was raised by him when he was in opposition two years back.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot didn’t address the issue because he belongs to Jodhpur and his home town was a privileged district under his tenure.
He assured the House that present state government will ensure that Rs 25 crore are taken back from the university.
