Rajasthan govt snubs Jaipur ex-royal family

Rajmata Padmini Devi and Padmanabh Singh, the titular Maharaja, lead a protest rally in Jaipur against the action taken by the Jaipur Development Authority at Rajmahal Palace. (Photo: PTI)

In a clear snub to Jaipur’s ex-royal family, the Rajasthan government has not only justified Jaipur Development Authority’s (JDA) action of demolishing structures and sealing one of the entry gates to Rajmahal Palace Hotel but also accused it of encroaching upon government land.

Urban Development Housing (UDH) minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat said that government property should be used for public interest and it is JDA’s duty to ensure that there is no encroachment on the public property. Rather, the UDH minister accused the royal family of encroaching upon public land despite a court order against it.

“There is a contempt case pending in the court of additional district judge (ADJ) no. 11 against construction of a marriage garden by the Rajmahal Palace hotel on the West side of the hotel on khasra no. 184 despite status quo by the ADJ in an interim order in 2008,” the minister said.

He also rejected the royal family’s demand of removal of Jaipur Development commissioner Shikhar Agarwal. “The government takes decision only on the merit of a demand not just any demand,” he said.

According to the minister, the JDA was entitled to remove encroachments on the land to prevent unauthorised use.

“The JDA action was legal and bonafide. It followed due procedure before removing encroachments including serving notices two days prior to its action. Still, if someone has any grievance about short period of notices, they can go to the court,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the erstwhile ruling family of Jaipur took out a protest rally in Rajasthan capital against sealing of the main entrance of the Rajmahal Palace.

Padmini Devi had given a call to the people of Jaipur to join her family in the show of strength.

The supporters of the royal family raised slogans against the Raje government and in support of Diya Kumari. Rants of “Rajasthan ki Mukhyamantri kaisi ho, Diya Kumari jaisi ho” filled the air when Padmini and her family member led the crowd in an open jeep.

The first public show of protest by the former royals has a political twist; Padmini Devi’s daughter Diya Kumari was brought into politics by none other than chief minister Vasundhara Raje.

She was given ticket to contest the last assembly election on a BJP ticket from Sawai Madhopur.

Padmini Devi lamented that the Raje government did not care for the honour of the royal family.

“What was the pressing need to act in such a manner They could have spoken to us. We could have cooperated with the civic authorities,” Padmini said.

She said, “My husband, Bhawani Singh fought war against Pakistan. He was awarded the Mahaveer Chakra. They did not think about our honour. We are no longer the ruler. We have democracy. Still the kind of support we got from the people has moved us immensely. I wish I did not have to do what I did today.