Chittorgarh : Controversy has arisen in Chittorgarh regarding the selection of the successor of the former royal family. Dr. Ambedkar Scheduled Caste Officers-Employees Association (Ajak) has expressed objection to the program of installing BJP MLA from Nathdwara Vishvaraj Singh on the alleged throne of Maharana Mewar. He wrote a letter to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma saying that if such an event is organized in a democracy, there will be a protest against it. On the other hand, in Udaipur too, there is a possibility of deepening the property dispute that has been going on for almost 40 years between the former royal family regarding the proposed Dhuni Darshan. In fact, after the demise of former royal family member Mahendra Singh Mewar, a program has been scheduled for his son Vishwaraj Singh Mewar to go to City Palace in Udaipur for Dhuni Darshan on November 25 after turban dastur in Chittor. Regarding this, representatives from Vishwaraj Singh Mewar side have met the police and demanded arrangements, whereas the trust running the City Palace has not given its consent.
In fact, in the invitation letter distributed by Pragyat Singh Delwara, people have been invited describing Vishvaraj Singh as the 77th ‘successor’ of the former royal family of Mewar. After the invitation letter came out, Ajak Association has stood up against this event. President of the organization, Shriram Chouradiya said that in the golden age of independence, this kind of feudal organization, contrary to the constitutional and democratic system, is not acceptable. In the invitation letter, a program of successor selection is proposed at Fateh Prakash Mahal of Chittorgarh Fort. Ajak organization argues that organizing such events in government premises is an insult to democracy.
There has been a dispute going on in the family for 40 years regarding the valuable property of the former royal family. The dispute is over three different properties belonging to Udaipur City Palace itself. The then Maharana Bhagwat Singh gave many properties on lease from 1963 to 1983 and sold stake in some. These included priceless properties like Lake Palace, Jag Niwas, Jag Mandir, Fateh Prakash, Shiv Niwas, Garden Hotel, City Palace Museum. These properties were transferred to a company established by the former royal family, which triggered the controversy. The matter is currently pending in the High Court. The other side claims that Mahendra Singh Mewar was disowned by the will of Bhagwat Singh Mewar which came to light in 1984. This was also confirmed by the Supreme Court in 1994. It is claimed that the Dhuni site in the City Palace is outside the disputed property and is at a place operated by the Trust.
