BJP seeks report on its MLA’s corruption charge at Meghwal

Jaipur: The BJP high command on Wednesday sought a report on veteran party MLA from Shahpura Kailash Meghwal’s accusations against Union law minister and Bikaner BJP MP Arjun Ram Meghwal of indulging in corrupt practices.The move came a day after the state BJP served a show-cause notice on Kailash (89), who is also a former assembly Speaker, for his accusations against the Union minister at a public programme in Shahpura on Monday. The notice says that if he (Kailash) doesn’t respond within 10 days, the party will act as per rules.A video of Kailash announcing to write a letter to PM Narendra Modi exposing the corruption cases involving Arjun Ram has gone viral. Sources confirmed that BJP’s election in-charge Union minister Pralhad Joshi and state in-charge Arun Singh have verbally communicated details of the issue.A defiant Kailash told TOI, “I will respond to the notice and submit my detailed reply within the stipulated period of time.” Responding to a question on whether any party functionary has reached out to him regarding the allegations he made, the MLA said, “Nobody.” He refused to answer any questions related to the controversy.Reacting to the controversy, Arjun Meghwal said that since Kailash is going to join Congress, he will naturally level such allegations. “He must have met BJP senior leaders for an assembly ticket and realised that he was not getting one this time. You must have noticed in the same programme (at Shahpura) he was endlessly praising CM Gehlot. As the matter has become political, he is speaking against me,” Meghwal said.Meanwhile, responding to a media query on the matter, CM Ashok Gehlot said that the allegations made by the BJP MLA have substance and the state government is conducting an inquiry. “I have come to know that there was a lot of corruption during his (Arjun Meghwal’s) time as Churu collector. It has been suppressed. These people have taken a stay from the high court,” the CM said.The incident has left BJP embarrassed as it is gearing up for the statewide Jan Parivartan Yatra from September 2. The yatra is designed by the central party leadership ahead of the assembly polls to project the party as united. BJP national president JP Nadda will launch the first phase of the four-phased yatra. Union home minister Amit Shah will launch the third phase on September 3 from Baneshwar Dham in Banswara.“The matter has been taken very seriously by the central leaders as it involves Union minister Arjun Meghwal, who is considered close to PM Modi,” said a senior state BJP functionary.