Jaipur : Bhajanlal government of Rajasthan has abolished the Gandhi Vatika Trust, created by the previous Congress government to run the Gandhi Darshan Museum. A bill in this regard was introduced in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on July 15, which was passed by voice vote after discussion in the House on July 30. Since then, the political temperature in the state has been high and Congress leaders are targeting the government and asking questions. Now Ashok Gehlot has also given his reaction on this.
‘Change in government should not have any effect on this’
Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot wrote in a post on social media platform X on Thursday night, ‘Our government had created the Department of Peace and Non-violence and the Gandhi Vatika Museum in Central Park, Jaipur to spread Gandhiji’s ideology in Rajasthan. But the BJP government first abolished the department, and now passed a bill to abolish the trust governing the Gandhi Vatika Museum. The purpose of operating the Gandhi Vatika Museum through a trust was that it should have well-known Gandhi thinkers and the change of government should not affect it.’
Our government had established the Department of Peace and Nonviolence and the Gandhi Vatika Museum in Central Park, Jaipur to spread Gandhiji’s ideology in Rajasthan, but the BJP government first abolished the department and now has passed a bill to abolish the trust governing the Gandhi Vatika Museum.
Gandhi…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) July 31, 2024
‘I personally requested the Chief Minister’
The former CM further wrote, ‘People of Gandhi Peace Foundation were associated with it so that it could be operated better. But despite the inauguration on 24 September 2023, neither the new government opened the Gandhi Vatika Museum for the public nor allowed this trust to work. I had personally requested the Chief Minister to start this museum. The BJP government also abolished the trust, which is unfortunate. When will the BJP government now open the Gandhi Vatika Museum for the general public? The date should be announced immediately.’
Why did Bhajanlal government have to bring a new bill?
However, while responding to the debate on the bill, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara had said in the House that the Gandhi Vatika Trust Jaipur (Repeal) Bill has been introduced for better operation of the Gandhi Museum and wide and effective promotion of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas. The previous bill has been repealed because it gave unlimited powers to the vice-president of the trust. There was a provision in the Act that even if the chairman removes someone, he will be able to do so in consultation with the vice-president. Also, no provision has been made to remove the vice-president despite being suffering from any disqualification.
