Former Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas spearheaded a significant protest march in Jaipur on Sunday, leveling serious allegations of a multi-crore scam involving the transfer of a state-owned factory. The demonstration, which proceeded towards the Jaipur Metal Factory located on Station Road, centered on accusations of a ₹1,000-crore scam in the handover of the facility to a private entity.
Allegations of High-Level Involvement in ₹1,000 Crore Scam
Addressing a gathering of supporters during the march, Khachariyawas made explosive claims, directly implicating the state's highest office. He asserted that the Chief Minister's office was involved in the dubious deal linked to the factory's transfer to the private company, Alchemist. The former minister provided a timeline, stating that based on a ruling by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the state government transferred possession of the factory to Alchemist within an astonishingly short period of just three days. He claimed this swift action was executed through the state's chief secretary and the industries secretary.
Government's "Alacrity" Questioned, Workers' Rights Ignored
Khachariyawas sharply criticized the government's haste in the matter. He pointed out that the state had a legal window of 45 days to challenge the NCLT decision in the Supreme Court. Instead of exploring this legal recourse, the administration demonstrated what he termed "alacrity" in transferring the company. "By hurriedly handing over possession, the government has proved it does not want to give anything to the workers," he alleged. This statement framed the issue not just as a financial scandal but as a direct betrayal of the factory's workforce, whose interests he claimed were sidelined in the rushed process.
Protest Demands and Political Repercussions
The march and the allegations mark a significant escalation in political opposition against the current state government. The protest demands a thorough investigation into the entire transfer process of the Jaipur Metal Factory. Key questions raised include:
- The rationale behind not appealing the NCLT order within the stipulated timeframe.
- The need for transparency in the valuation and terms of the transfer to Alchemist.
- Safeguards for the rights and dues of the factory workers.
The incident is poised to become a major political flashpoint in Rajasthan, with the opposition likely to use it to attack the government's credibility on governance and protection of public assets. The demand for a probe into the alleged ₹1,000-crore scam is expected to resonate in the state's political discourse in the coming days.
