Rajasthan deputy CM's son seen with govt escort in reel, sparks online backlash
Jaipur, Sep 28: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa had to contend with an online backlash after his son appeared in a social media reel driving a modified jeep with a state government vehicle tailing him.
Bairwa, who also serves as the transport minister, defended his son on Friday stating that there was no wrongdoing as he was with his friends from school.
The Rajasthan government Bolero vehicle with multicoloured beacon on it and registered in the name of transport department, was seen tailing and escorting the jeep, raising questions about the inappropriate use of state resources.
The jeep was driven by Bairwa's son on Amber road in Jaipur. The reel showed him with three friends, including the son of a Congress leader.
In another reel, the deputy CM's son accompanies the Congress leader's son to a luxury car showroom, where the latter is purchasing a vehicle.
Following backlash on social media, Bairwa said that since becoming the deputy CM, his son has had opportunities to associate with affluent individuals and see luxury cars and there is nothing with it.
"I want to thank the Prime Minister for making someone like me the deputy chief minister of Rajasthan. After this, if wealthy individuals allow my son to sit with them and give him a chance to see luxury cars then I am thankful," he said.
Bairwa said that his son has not yet attained the age of 18 years and that the vehicle accompanying him was for security purposes.
"Where were the rules violated? The car was following for my child's safety. If people interpret it differently, that's their perspective but I do not blame my child or his friends. They were just together," he said.
Bairwa is a second time BJP MLA from Dudu constituency.
The Bolero vehicle seen in the reel is registered in the name of the transport department.
Secretary of the transport department Shuchi Tyagi could not be contacted for comments on the matter.
A senior police officer familiar with the development said, "We are examining whether the police escort is being misused or not."
#WATCH | Jaipur: On the viral video of his son driving a car and being escorted by a police vehicle, Rajasthan Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa says, "I got to know about it from the social media. My son has just passed his senior level and those (visible in the video) are his school… pic.twitter.com/SxYdY9n29n
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) September 27, 2024
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Pillar placed on Banda-Mahoba rail track in UP, minor held
Mahoba(UP), Sep 28: A 16-year-old boy has been apprehended for allegedly putting a fencing pillar on the Banda-Mahoba rail track, causing disruptions on Saturday, police said.
The driver of the passenger train had to apply emergency brakes to stop the train after he noticed a concrete pillar on the tracks, police said.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when the driver of a passenger train informed the Railway Protection Force and police about the obstruction on the track, they said.
"Police team along with RPF reached the spot and detained a minor. The minor has confessed to placing the pillar on the track," Circle Officer (CO) of the area Deepak Dubey said.
The rail traffic on the route was cleared shortly after the pillar was removed from the track, the officer said.
A similar incident occurred earlier in the day in Ballia.
A rail engine hit a stone placed on the railway track in the Bairia area on Saturday, officials said, adding that no damage was caused.
Public Relations Officer of the North Eastern Railway Ashok Kumar told PTI that on Saturday the loco pilot applied emergency brakes after seeing the stone.
