This is an archive article published on February 11, 2025
‘Tarnished reputation of Rajasthan govt’: BJP notice to its minister Kirodi Lal Meena after snooping claims
In the video that surfaced last week, Meena is purportedly heard saying: "I was hoping that things would change and that when we come to power, we will crack down on the corrupt"
Days after he accused his own government of snooping on him, Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Kirodi Lal Meena has been issued a show cause notice from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asking him to explain his remarks.
The development comes after video – undated but said to be recent — purportedly showed Meena accusing his own government of tapping his phone after he sought cancellation of the 2021 Sub Inspector recruitment exams over paper leak allegations. The exam was conducted under the previous Ashok Gehlot government.
In the notice he was served Monday, the BJP claimed that the accusations that Meena, Rajasthan’s agriculture minister and an MLA from Sawai Madhopur, made “tarnished the reputation of the BJP and the BJP-led government in Rajasthan”. It also gave the leader three days to respond.
“You are a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and have been elected MLA from Sawai Madhopur constituency for the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. Recently you made a public statement in newspapers in which you accused the BJP-led government of getting your telephone tapped, which is untrue,” the notice from the state BJP president Madan Rathore said. “Your above statement has been considered by the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party as indiscipline according to the party’s Constitution. This ‘show cause notice’ is being sent to you on the direction of the national president of the BJP.”
In the video that surfaced last week, Meena, who was addressing a public gathering at Amagarh temple in Jaipur, is purportedly heard saying: “I was hoping that things would change and that when we come to power, we will crack down on the corrupt. The protests I did in the previous government and because of which you supported us and we formed the government – work was not done on those issues.”
He said he raised some issues of corruption, including of the 2021 Sub Inspector paper leak, with the present government.
“Maine jab kaha ke woh pareeksha radd karo, toh sarkar ne meri baat nahi maani. Ulta sarkar ki taraf se – jaisa pichle raj main hua karta tha – chappe chappe par mere liye CID lagai jaati hai aur mera telephone bhi record kiya jaata hai. Lekin main koi bura kaam karta nahi, isliye main darta nahi, isliye main jhukta nahi, isliye main tuut ta bhi nahi. Main sach kehne se nahi chookta. (When I said cancel that examination, the government didn’t listen to me. On the contrary, the government – as it used to be during the previous rule – deputed CID (personnel) for me at every nook and corner and my telephone is also recorded. But I don’t do anything wrong, that’s why I’m not afraid, that’s why I don’t bend, that’s why I don’t break. And I never shy away from telling the truth).”
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The statement kicked up a storm during the Budget session of the assembly, with the Opposition Congress — led by Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra — demanding Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s resignation.
The state government has denied Meena’s allegations.
When contacted, Kirodi said he had “no information” about the notice.
“I’m a dedicated and disciplined worker of the party. Whenever I get the notice, I will respond to the party leaders,” he told The Indian Express.
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
