Caught on camera: Rajasthan BJP MLA assures no action' against illegal miners
Jaipur: BJP MLA Jagat Singh courted a controversy on Saturday after he was caught on camera assuring a gathering that they can continue illegal mining without fear.
The MLA from Bharatpur district in Rajasthan, which is notorious for illegal mining, is seen addressing a group of miners or transporters.
After attending Pahadi Panchayat Samiti meeting, Jagat Singh attended another meeting wherein he emphasised that they can continue with their illicit practices.
“I don’t understand legal or illegal, but you can continue doing your work. I have spoken to higher authorities in the government,” he allegedly told them.
“Neither RTO nor mines engineer or SDO will come. I have explained to chief minister 'saahiba' that this is how we earn our daily bread and butter. We have no choice. She has assured me that she will not look this side," Jagat Singh said.
Jagat Singh is son of former foreign minister Natwar Singh who was forced to resign from the union cabinet during UPA regime after his name came up in Volcker committee’s report a decade ago,
The block development officer K K Jaiman said that police action against vehicles deployed in mining area was discussed in the meeting but no such statement was made by the MLA. However, a member of the Pahadi Panchayat Samiti Ramkishan said that ‘illegal mining’ remarks were made by the MLA in the meeting.
According to reports, locals opposed MLA's visit and and also waived black flags after the meeting.
Congress vice-president and media chairperson, Archana Sharma, said, "The BJP MLA is openly supporting and abetting illegal mining and overloading. He has said that the CM is supporting illegal mining, which confirms her involvement in the same, so investigation in the multi-crore mining scam being probed by the anti-corruption bureau should now focus on CM's role too."
