Rajasthan BJP turns down demand for minister's resignation

Jaipur, Sep 15 (UNI) The ruling BJP today turned down the demand for resignation of Minister of State for Water Resources Surendra Singh Rathore on moral grounds, following his conviction in a Mines Safety Act violation case.

Addressing a press conference here today, party state president Mahesh Sharma said ''prima facie, it was not a case of moral misconduct and therefore there was no need to ask the minister to resign at this point of time''.

''However, we would get the copy of the judgement to study it thoroughly and take appropriate stand, if needed, at a later stage,'' he added.

Mr Rathore, the MLA from Kumbhalgarh assembly segment of Rajsamand district, was handed a six-month jail term and fine of Rs 2000 by a Rajsamand Court in a case of violation of Mines Safety Act in mines owned by his family.

The opposition Congress has urged Governor Shilendra Kumar Singh to dismiss Mr Rathore in the wake of the latter's conviction.

UNI