Rajasthan: Decisions are being reversed after controversy, public hearings have now been renamed as worker hearings.

News Topical, Digital Desk : After facing a crushing defeat in the Anta assembly seat by-election, the Rajasthan government announced a public hearing in the capital, Jaipur, starting Monday (December 1st) to reach out to the public and address their concerns. This public hearing is being conducted by ministers at the party's state office. However, before this public hearing could benefit the people, it has become mired in controversy and has become a source of trouble for both the government and the party. 

The public hearing has now been transformed into a worker hearing. Workers are being asked to provide proof of their BJP affiliation. Without a recommendation letter from a senior leader, they are also being denied entry into the office.

Self-made decisions become a problem for the government!

Decisions made by the Rajasthan government are now becoming a source of trouble for itself. The government is being forced to change and reverse its own decisions. After an uproar three days ago, the decision to celebrate the anniversary of the Babri demolition as Shaurya Diwas in government schools was withdrawn within hours. Furthermore, the decision to hold a public hearing at the BJP office in the capital, Jaipur, was reversed just two days later. 

Worker hearing was conducted for public hearing 

The public hearing has now been renamed the "Worker Hearing." Following the name change, the public is unable to enter the two-hour daily hearings held at the BJP office from Monday to Wednesday. They are being turned away, saying that only the grievances of workers will be heard there. 

They have to visit the homes and offices of ministers and officials to voice their complaints and concerns. However, it's not as if all BJP workers' complaints are being heard here. Forget about having their problems heard, they are not even being allowed to enter the party's state office. 

Evidence is being sought from BJP workers 

BJP workers are being asked to provide proof of their membership. Only those workers who have a recommendation letter from a party MP, MLA, district president, a senior official, or a Mandal president are being allowed inside. 

This letter should also state that the person is a longtime BJP worker and that their case must be heard by ministers at the state office. A worker who lacks this letter is not even allowed entry, even if they are a 20-25-year veteran or want to prove their membership by speaking to a senior leader over the phone.

Workers are returning disappointed

More workers are returning disappointed and empty-handed than the number of workers whose problems and complaints are being heard at the hearings. After being turned away from the party office where they've worked so hard, some workers are leaving with a dejected face, while others are vocally expressing their displeasure and protest. 

The Congress Party has targeted both the government and the BJP over this issue. They say the BJP has no concern for the public, which is why they have been excluded from public hearings. Swarnim Chaturvedi, media coordinator and state general secretary of the Congress Party in Rajasthan, says the practice of slips has become so rampant within the BJP that workers are now denied entry without slips from senior leaders.

Government ministers are confused during the hearing.

However, the ministers attending these hearings seem confused about their roles. They themselves are unsure whose problems they should be listening to and whose they shouldn't. Sometimes they call it a public hearing, sometimes a worker hearing. 

On Wednesday (December 3), the state's Cabinet Minister for Medical and Health, Gajendra Singh Khinvsar, and Minister for Women and Child Development, Manju Baghmar, conducted the hearing. However, in the media briefing after the hearing, both leaders repeatedly used the term "public hearing." When asked questions, they had no satisfactory answers. 

BJP office in-charge gave this information in the matter

Mukesh Pareek, the BJP office in-charge in the capital, Jaipur, says that there are some difficulties in the initial days, but they will be resolved soon. No worker will be allowed to leave empty-handed. He will personally speak to anyone who does not have a letter from senior leaders.

The current Rajasthan government had previously initiated public hearings in its early days, but after similar controversies arose, it was discontinued within less than a week. Now it remains to be seen how long and successful this program will be this time, and how much benefit the public and BJP workers will derive from these hearings. 

Read More: Bulandshahr: Six arrested for sending money abroad through hawala and online gaming