1 phone call can ruin jobs, lives: Min warns Raj govt officials

Jodhpur: Union minister for culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Saturday threatened govt officers with ruining their careers and lives if they misbehaved with BJP workers or delayed work requests."If an officer mistreats a worker or stalls their work, a single phone call from me can ruin both their jobs and lives; I won't even have to write a letter," he said while addressing a public grievance hearing at Bapini in Phalodi district.Reacting to complaints raised by BJP workers, Shekhawat said he will intervene speedily if any officer misbehaves with a party worker or deliberately delays their work, adding that rude behaviour would be met with an even stronger response. The remark came after party workers alleged that officials were not listening to them and were avoiding work-related responsibilities. In response, Shekhawat said he would ensure accountability among officers over the long term."This warning is not for any one but for all officials," he said, adding that he would be there for the next 20 years and was not going anywhere.At the same time, Shekhawat advised party workers to maintain discipline and respect towards govt officials. "Being party workers does not mean we can speak disrespectfully to officers. It is our responsibility to respect them," he said.The Union minister's remarks drew criticism from the Congress, with Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Tikaram Jully saying they reflected the BJP's "inherent tendencies" and indicated a "low standard of conduct" on Shekhawat's part."The manner in which Shekhawat has threatened (govt) officials is utterly disgraceful," Jully wrote on X. "Perhaps he is frustrated at not being made the chief minister… which is why he occasionally behaves in this manner," he added.In his post, Jully also referred to a similar incident involving the BJP's Chittorgarh MLA Chandrabhan Akya, in which the latter allegedly threatened an RTO officer. "These people want to exert undue pressure on the administration… I appeal to all employees to carry out their duties in accordance with the law, without succumbing to any pressure," he wrote.Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra also condemned Shekhawat's remarks, calling them an insult not only to individual govt officers but also the entire administrative system. He termed the Union minister's behaviour a sign of "arrogance of power", adding that the BJP's functioning was driven by intimidation rather than adherence to law.