Karni Sena threatens Rajasthan minister for ‘derogatory’ remark

Our Correspondent 

Jaipur, June 13

Shree Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS) has threatened to chop off the nose and ears of Rajasthan Higher Education Minister Kiran Maheshwari for her alleged derogatory remarks against Rajputs in case she did not apologise.

SRKS on Wednesday held a demonstration and burnt the minister’s effigy in her assembly constituency Rajsamand as hundreds of its activists shouted anti-BJP slogans like ‘Kamal ka phool, hamari bhool’ and demanded the minister’s apology, state president Mahipal Singh Makrana said.

SRKS, known for its agitation against the film ‘Padmaavat’, warned the minister at its meeting at Rajput Sabha on Tuesday saying “She should have remembered the Deepika Padukone incident (Padmaavat controversy).”

A day ago, at a routine media briefing, when Maheshwari was reminded that Sarv Rajput Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (SRSSS) had started a campaign against the BJP ahead of the Assembly polls in December, she said, “Aise bhi log hain jo barsati choohe (rats) hain, jo chunav aate hi bilon se nikal aatein hain (There are people like rainy rats who come out of their holes during election time),” Makrana said.

Despite repeated attempts, the minister could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Tuesday night, Giriraj Singh Lotwada, SRSSS state coordinator, said a joint campaign, ‘Kamal ka phool, hamari bhool’, against the BJP government was launched and would be intensified in all districts. 

Lotwada alleged that the state BJP government was spreading anarchy to regain power in the upcoming Assembly polls, but the people of the state and SRSSS would not allow it.

He recalled that in the fugitive Anandpal encounter case the Sangarsh Samiti and the state government had reached an agreement but the government did not keep its word. The stalemate created unrest in the community, he added.