‘Ahuja sanskari, but BJP took zero-tolerance stand: Rathore

Bhilwara: Gyandev Ahuja is "sanskari", but BJP suspended him from its primary membership due to the party's zero-tolerance policy, BJP state chief Madan Rathore said Thursday, while speaking on the sidelines of a BJP workers' conference in Mandalgarh, Bhilwara.
Ahuja, the former BJP MLA from Ramgarh, Alwar, had purified a temple with ‘Gangajal' after Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, Congress' Dalit face in Rajasthan, visited it earlier this week. A habitual offender, Ahuja has openly endorsed cow vigilatism and in 2016, shot to infamy with his remarks on beer cans, cigarette butts and used condoms being recovered from dustbins in Jawaharlal Nehru University's hostel rooms.
Rathore, himself an OBC, referred to Ahuja as a senior party functionary who won as a legislator before his own electoral debut. "However, when I read about his statement, I called him and we took action against him immediately. He was suspended from the party's primary membership after his conduct, reflecting BJP's zero-tolerance toward caste discrimination. In fact, Ahuja told me he has a Bairwa (Dalit) help who serves him water," Rathore said.
Rathore also concurred with former chief minister Vasundhara Raje's criticism of bureaucrats in Baran for not addressing the region's water woes. Dismissing allegations that the bureaucracy holds sway over governance, the party chief said BJP believes in protecting its workers rather than defend officials.
Rathore said, "The former chief minister's criticism of officer' negligence was right. Their conduct warrants reprimand. We will always prioritises party workers over officials and ensure appropriate action is taken against errant officers."
In an aside, the BJP chief also addressed the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Jaipur. "The High Court ordered the widening of the road. Initially, when administration tried to take action, our CM advised them to coordinate, and that effort was made. It was agreed to leave 50 meters and widen the rest of the area. There was confusion about where to measure the 50 meters from. But, we managed the situation and stopped the remaining work," he said.