In a recent development in Jaipur, the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ and foundation laying ceremony of a ropeway project led by a state Cabinet Minister on Thursday sparked controversy as the Election Commission intervened, preventing State Cabinet Minister Mahesh Joshi from attending the event due to a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Additionally, Election Commission officials removed the foundation stone plaque featuring the minister’s name.
During this contentious situation, five priests from prominent temples collectively initiated the foundation laying of the ropeway project, while Mahesh Joshi remained outside the gate. Later, Mahesh Joshi criticized the opposition, remarking that “there are individuals within one party who are inactive themselves. When someone else takes action, they attempt to obstruct it.”
A significant gathering from the Hawa Mahal assembly constituency assembled near the Garh Ganesh temple during the event. As soon as the Election Commission received information about the event, their officials arrived to halt the program.
Kirti Singh Nirvan, an official from the Election Commission, explained, “The manner in which the advertisement appeared in the newspaper constitutes a violation of the code of conduct. No political foundation stone laying program can be held after the implementation of the code of conduct. Since this was a political event, efforts were made to prevent it. If an event is private, then there is no issue.”
Subsequently, when discussing the foundation laying ceremony, Minister Mahesh Joshi stated, “I want to congratulate all the Ganesh devotees of Jaipur. People who, for various reasons, couldn’t climb to such heights for years will now have the opportunity for darshan.”
