A seemingly routine question on homeless families in Bharatpur ignited a fiery showdown in the Rajasthan Assembly on Wednesday, exposing deep political divides. RLD legislator Subhash Garg sought data on homeless households and PMAY-qualified families in the district, setting off a chain reaction of accusations and rebuttals.
Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra of Urban Development offered to fetch a report from the collector but dodged specifics, prompting Garg’s sharp pushback. ‘Give me the exact number first,’ Garg demanded, then grilled on whether the 2022 Homeless Policy mandated surveys. His call for a binary response hung in the air unanswered.
The skirmish broadened as Opposition Leader Tikaram Julie mocked the ministers’ interventions as unnecessary legal posturing. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel fired back, telling Julie to stick to queries over oratory. Julie retaliated, framing his remarks as factual and decrying the haste in dismissing them.
‘People without homes need timelines, not excuses,’ Julie emphasized, critiquing the policy’s implementation gaps. Industry heavyweight Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore waded in with a cricketing metaphor, assuring the house of the UDH minister’s readiness on all fronts. Speaker’s nod to Rathore’s speech only fueled opposition protests.
Pandemonium ensued with ministers and MLAs trading barbs, requiring repeated Speaker admonitions. The session echoed prior flak on Revenue Minister Hemant Meena, who cited rules instead of clarity on road classifications.
This Bharatpur brouhaha highlights persistent accountability battles in Rajasthan politics. With PMAY central to government promises, such disruptions raise doubts on addressing India’s housing crisis effectively. Stakeholders await concrete action beyond assembly theatrics.