In a shocking turn of events, the State Information Commission of Rajasthan allegedly posted used condoms wrapped in old newspaper in the response to a Right to Information (RTI) query. In reply to an RTI, over an issue related to alleged corrupt practices in a village panchayat, used condoms were sent. The RTI was filed by Vikas Choudhary and Manohar Lal, the residents of Chani Badi in Bhadra tehsil of Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district.
While talking to the media, Choudhary, who is preparing for State Civil Services examination, said, “After opening the first envelope with used condoms folded in an old newspaper, we were quite apprehensive about the stuff in the second one so we called the block development officer (BDO) and requested his presence while opening the other”. “When the BDO refused our request, we decided to open it in the presence of some prominent persons of our village and filmed the whole episode. The material in the second envelope was the same as the first one,” he added.
In a similar way, Manohar Lal too was shocked by the ‘reply’ after opening the envelope. “Is this how the panchayat runs its business? I cannot believe the civic body can reply in such a foul manner. I have been in constant mental agony and depression since I received the RTI reply,” Lal said.
Ironically, the Congress party never stops patting its back and keeps claiming of having pioneered the RTI; but lately, it seems, has made a complete joke out of it. Moreover, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hanumangarh Jila Parishad Navneet Kumar claimed that it was a “mischievous act”. “The regrettable and illegal act has been done by some unknown person who appears to have access in the official system,” Kumar said. He further assured that all necessary steps will be taken to bring the culprit to book and such incidents won’t happen in the future.
The incident shows the lack of respect of the newly elected Rajasthan government for its citizens. Earlier, CM Ashok Gehlot urged to revoke the visionary welfare scheme Bhamashah Yojana. The flagship scheme for women empowerment was introduced by the previous BJP government. Bhanwarlal Meghwal, a Cabinet Minister in Rajasthan earlier stated that the government is considering scrapping down the welfare scheme. In another instance, a mini co-operative bank in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan named people for farm loan waiver who actually had never taken any loan. This instance of a major irregularity has currently been reported from a village in the Dungarpur district and the possibility of similar irregularities from other districts cannot be ruled out. It is clearly evident that the Congress-led state government doesn’t have any interest to serve the people.
However, the history of the Congress Party is full of hypocrisy and such incidents are not unexpected. The heinous acts like these show the true character of the Grand Old Party.