This is an archive article published on March 22, 2025
In Rajasthan, a former minister is taking keen interest in improving temples – MLA Yoonus Khan
A two-time Cabinet minister and a three-time MLA, Khan left the BJP in 2023 after being denied a ticket to contest the assembly election and contested as an independent, defeating his nearest rival, Congress’s Chetan Singh Chaudhary, by 2,394 votes.
Ever since the Budget Session began on January 31, one independent MLA has been taking particular interest in the upkeep of temples and the promotion of Vedic education in the state — Deedwana MLA Yoonus Khan, an ex-Cabinet minister and a former leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Considered a loyalist of former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Yoonus Khan, a former Transport And PWD minister of the state, has asked seven questions in the Budget Session thus far – mostly to do with promotion of temples and Vedic education in the state. On March 7, for instance, he asked if the state government had records of promoting Vedic education in Rajasthan. He has also raised multiple questions regarding the development and upkeep of temples in the state and sought details of the honorarium given to the Vedic teachers in the 39 Ved Vidyalaya and scholarships provided to the schools’ students.
The state government said it pays Vedic school teachers Rs 15,000 and gives students Rs 500/month as scholarship.
A two-time Cabinet minister and a three-time MLA, Khan left the BJP in 2023 after being denied a ticket to contest the assembly election and contested as an independent, defeating his nearest rival, Congress’s Chetan Singh Chaudhary, by 2,394 votes.
According to a local BJP leader in Deedwana, Khan’s efforts to strengthen infrastructure in the assembly constituency during his tenure as the state’s transport minister helped earn him goodwill across religious and caste groups.
“His development work has made him a local hero,” the BJP leader said.
Shastri Kosalendra Das, a professor at the Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University, Jaipur, said regardless of a person’s religion, “if there is a political leader who’s taking up the issue of development of temples and honorarium to the priests, these efforts should be appreciated”.
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After he was elected into the assembly in 2023, Khan took his oath in Sanskrit.
Talking to the media after one session, Yoonus Khan said: “After I asked a question regarding the increase in the honorarium of Vedic teachers teaching in the Ved Vidyalaya, the government increased the honorarium amount of the teachers. Similarly, I asked whether the government is thinking of increasing the honorarium of temple priests and after that, the honorarium of the priests was increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,500. This clearly shows that the government is sleeping and least bothered regarding the upliftment of the temples in the state”.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
