Allegations of extra marital relations claimed the post of another Minister in Rajasthan when Ramlal Jat, Minister for Environment and Forests and Mines, submitted his resignation on Saturday. Mr. Jat, who wields considerable influence in the milk cooperative sector in the State, submitted his papers following an ongoing controversy over the death of the wife of a family friend about two months back. The resignation was submitted to the Chief Minister.
Till late evening the Chief Minister's Office remained tightlipped over the resignation, its acceptance or otherwise.
Mr.Jat, attributed the provocation for the step to a news item and a write up published in a local Hindi newspaper about the “mysterious” death of a young woman Parsa Devi in Bhilwara on September 27 and how desperate was the Minister to avoid a post mortem of her body.
Mr. Jat accused the former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of entering into a “conspiracy” with the newspaper to “malign” his public image. “I took this step to protect my image as I am hurt by what appeared in the newspaper today. It is a conspiracy. Former Chief Minister has colluded with the newspaper in publishing such a report,” Mr. Jat said.
Mr. Jat is a strategic person for both Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Union Minister for Road Transport C.P. Joshi as he is maintaining good relations with both.
