Jaipur erupted in political drama on Wednesday as Rajasthan’s Legislative Assembly turned into a battleground during question hour. The flashpoint was a query from RLD MLA Subhash Garg about the number of homeless families in Bharatpur and eligible beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Urban Development and Housing Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra responded by promising a detailed report from the district collector on landless families. But Garg wasn’t satisfied, demanding precise figures on homeless households right away. As Kharra began explaining PMAY eligibility criteria, Garg interrupted, questioning if the Homeless Policy-2022 included provisions for surveying homeless families. ‘I want a straight yes or no,’ he insisted.
Tensions escalated when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and Opposition Leader Tikaram Julie locked horns. Julie took a dig at two standing ministers, quipping, ‘We don’t need lawyers here.’ Patel shot back, urging Julie to ask questions instead of delivering speeches.
Julie countered, accusing Patel of rushing and misinterpreting his point. ‘The issue is simple: when will those without homes get houses?’ he pressed, highlighting flaws in the minister’s response and referencing the 2022 policy standards.
Industry Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore jumped in, defending the UDH minister: ‘This isn’t a googly; he’s fully prepared to answer both parts on homelessness and PMAY.’ When opposition members objected, Speaker clarified that Rathore had permission to speak.
The exchange devolved into heated exchanges and uproar, forcing the Speaker to intervene multiple times to restore order. Earlier, Revenue Minister Hemant Meena faced similar criticism for evading a direct yes-or-no on registering existing roads as public in revenue records, with the Speaker demanding straightforward answers.
This episode underscores ongoing friction between the ruling BJP and opposition in Rajasthan, particularly on welfare schemes critical to rural and urban poor. As debates rage, questions linger on timely housing delivery for the vulnerable.