Rajasthan News: Disqualified BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena Seeks Governor's Pardon In SDM Gun Threat Case; Congress Slams Move As Assault On Democracy

Jaipur: Former BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena, who lost his post after being sentenced to three years in the case of pointing a gun at an SDM, has knocked the Governor's House with a mercy petition for pardon of his sentence. The Governor's office has sought a report on this petition.

On Kanwarlal's mercy petition, Jhalawar SP has sought the opinion of the Aklera police station, where the case was registered against Meena in 2005. The letter, sent on Thursday, instructs the SHOs to give “top priority” to the matter.

Meena's MLA post would be reinstated in case the Governor reduces Kanwarlal's sentence or decides to pardon him as under the Representation of the People Act 1951, there is a provision to disqualify an MP or anMLA only if he is sentenced to more than 2 years.

Meena was disqualified as MLA on May 23 after he was sentenced to 3 years and could not get relief from the High Court and Supreme Court.

At the end of a Supreme Court-stipulated two-week relief, the convicted MLA had surrendered before the Aklera court in Jhalawar on May 21, from where he was sent to jail.

The Election Commission of India was intimated regarding the vacancy of his seat Anta, however by-election has not been announced on the seat until now.

The opposition Congress has condemned the process of mercy petition. The leader of opposition, Tikaram Julie said that the real face of BJP, which has been pretending to be the protector of democracy for the last few days, has been exposed.

Rajasthan BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena Disqualified After Conviction In 20-Year-Old Gun Case

"The way is being made for pardon of the convicted sacked BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena through the Governor in the case of pointing a gun at an SDM. Is the sentence of any common man also pardoned in this manner, or is this privilege only for the people of BJP?

Starting such a process for a sacked MLA convicted by the court is like killing the democracy,' said Julie on social media.