Rajmahal Palace gate reopened

Succumbing to pressure from outside and within the party, the Vasundhara Raje government has finally reopened one of the entry gates to the Rajmahal Palace heritage hotel on Sunday morning.

Only three days ago, urban development minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat had supported the demolition of structures and sealing of the gate on Rajmahal Palace land as legal and bonafide, while accusing the royal family of contempt of court.

Despite Sunday being a holiday, enforcement officer Kishore Singh opened the gates of the palace following 10 days of tussle on the recommendation of a four-member committee comprising three Rajput ministers in the Raje government, headed by none other than UDH minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat. Health minister Rajendra Singh Rathore, sports minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar and state BJP president Ashok Parnami were the other three members.

The committee had been formed by chief minister Vasundhara Raje after hectic parleys with senior BJP leader Shyodan Singh, Princess Diya Kumari and other leaders for over two days which paved the way for a meeting on Saturday night between Padmini Devi, the wife of late Maharaja Bhawani Singh and mother of Diya Kumari with the chief minister.

After the meeting, Ms Padmini Devi, who had led a protest rally three days ago against the state government, lowered her aggressive stance and reposed faith in chief minister Raje for delivering justice.

Rajmata Padmini Devi, wife of former ruler Brigadier Bhawani Singh, said: “As I said earlier too, CM is ours, the government is ours. She (Raje) has listened to me. I am satisfied. Now everything will be all right.”

However, the relief is temporary as the royal family has been asked to have another pathway made to the hotel. Besides, in a statement issued by the CM’s press adviser, it has been categorically stated that this does not mean accepting the rights of the royal family on the property.

“On a request from Diya Kumari and Padmini Devi to reopen the gate (of the palace) to avoid hassle, a committee was formed to consider the request which recommended that the gate should be opened to allow passage to the property, despite the royal family not having any right over the passage. The JDA has opened the gate which will have no bearing on the case pending in the court and not accepting any right of the royal family (sic.).”

Besides, the government has also not accepted the erstwhile royal family’s demand for the removal of Jaipur development commissioner Shikhar Agarwal for alleged rude behaviour with Diya Kumari.

Yet, the U-turn is being seen as the UP effect. It is believed that the Central BJP leadership is worried about adverse implication in Uttar Pradesh elections because the Rajput community had threatened to escalate the agitation from September 9 and even take it to UP where the party is already facing challenge from the Congress for its traditional Brahmin voters. It could not afford to antagonise yet another crucial vote bank.