Demand of a Pulwama martyr’s widow who sought a job for his ‘devar’ (brother-in-law) on compassion grounds rocked the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal informed the House that he (the devar) is already married with two children.

The BJP has been spearheading a campaign in favour of the demand of a job for the brother of one of the martyrs of Pulwama attack how could the Government ignore the facts of the family.

After question hour, a dozen BJP MLAs moved an adjournment motion on the protests by martyrs’ widows that lasted eleven days in the state capital but Speaker Dr CP Joshi rejected their joint motion saying that the government will make a statement on it at 2 pm.

The minister disclosed that the wife of martyr Rohitash Lamba had already gone on “Nata Pratha” with her devar who is married and has two children, and it was not justified as per the rules to give a job as ex gratia to a person other than the widow, or her son or daughter. He said the brother-in-law is not included in the definition of family of martyrs.

This triggered a protest by the Opposition BJP members led by the Deputy Leader R S Rathore as they moved to the well and shouted anti-government slogans.

The Opposition MLAs were also furious at Dhariwal’s statement in which he openly remarked on Rajya Sabha MP Kirorilal Meena who spearheaded the agitation saying, “Everyone in politics knows that the act Meena does in Jaipur, is not less than any terror”.

Defending the BJP’s demands for martyrs’ widows, the Deputy Leader Rathore said, “We would not tolerate the character assissination of a widow and I challenge the Minister to prove that she (widow) went to Nata with Devar. Either he (Dhariwa) would have to resign or I will resign if proved”.

Dhariwal clarified that it was published in all newspapers about the protesting woman who wanted a job for her ‘devar’ as she had opted for ‘nata pratha’.

This further aggravated the tension in the House as BJP MLAs expressed their displeasure and created ruckus on Dhariwal’s statement, which they did not agree with. The Speaker immediately initiated a debate on the demands for grants of Tribal Development and Women & Child Development, but the Opposition’s outcry continued from the well.

Later in an official statement Dhariwal said that in the past, three separate FIRs were registered against RS MP Meena in the matter of breach of public peace, assembly against law, conduct against law and indecent behavior and assault by his supporters with the police etc. The cases are being investigated by CID-CB.

Minister said that the demand made by a widow to give a job to her brother-in-law was unfair. This demand has also been declared unjustified by the widows of different regions of the state when they came and met the Chief Minister.