Renowned for his vibrant turbans, his bicycle commute to Parliament, and his mild-mannered ways, Arjun Ram Meghwal is known to have won the PM’s confidence for his ability to reach out to opposition parties over parliamentary proceedings to ensure the smooth passage of govt bills.
The four-time MP, who has represented the Bikaner (ST) constituency since 2009, saw his victory margin decline to a modest 5% points in 2024, a significant decline from the 23% margin he won by in 2019.
As BJP’s prominent Dalit face in Rajasthan, the retired IAS officer’s elevation was seen as a sign of the party’s commitment to the uplift of the marginalised community. In Modi’s first two tenures as PM, Meghwal served as MoS Corporate Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Tourism, Culture and Law.
He faced criticism over his apparent silence on atrocities perpetrated against Dalits, particularly in BJP-ruled states. Several Dalit organisations also flayed him for failing to speak for his community in LS. Unlike other Union ministers from Rajasthan, Meghwal kept an arm’s length from state politics and eschewed party events beyond those held in Bikaner. He has not been without controversies though, the most recent one stemming from BJP veteran Kailash Meghwal’s 30-page complaint to PM Modi about Arjun Ram’s alleged involvement in corruption, a charge that did not stick.
Courtesy : TOI
Note: This news is originally published in timesofindia.com and was used solely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights.
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