JAIPUR: A minor revolt is brewing in the BJP-led Government in Rajasthan with Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria rushing to Delhi on Tuesday to complain to the senior party leadership on the new legislation in the State facilitating the leasing out of ancient monuments to private parties. Mahesh Sharma, BJP State president, has also left for Delhi in this connection.

The new law, the Rajasthan Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Antiquities (Amendment) Act 2006, was passed by the Assembly the previous day by a voice vote in the absence of the Opposition, even after protests from Mr.Kataria and some of his party colleagues. The new law would facilitate handing over of even the famed Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar of Jaipur and the historical Chittorgarh Fort to private parties who can charge up to Rs.2,500 from each visitor.

Following the developments, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who was away to Delhi, wound up her trip to return to the State Capital on Monday evening. Rumours were rife on the resignation of Mr.Kataria after his open protest against the legislation in the Assembly.

Mr.Kataria had tried in vain to impress upon Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore and other Cabinet colleagues who were spearheading the Bill to postpone its passage at least for two days so that it could be discussed in detail. As such the legislation was redundant as there are laws to transfer monuments to private hands for maintenance and upkeep, he told the Assembly.

The statement of objects and reasons on the bill noted: "... the State Government is of the view that proper maintenance and restoration of these monuments would need huge resources and great expertise in the field and a limited and regulated private participation in the field would be very useful". "It is also considered appropriate to levy entrance fee in respect of certain protected monuments to be specified by the State Government so as to augment funds for their maintenance," it stated.

Sensing the resentment among a section of party MLAs, Ms.Raje on Tuesday called a meeting of the BJP Legislature Party in the Assembly premises before the start of the day's sitting. However, Mr.Kataria and his Cabinet colleagues Education Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari and Industries Minister Narpat Singh Rajvi left the meeting soon on the pretext that they had to prepare for the Question Hour.

"The legislation is to facilitate the `Adopt a monument' scheme introduced sometime back by the Government. We want to renovate and restore ancient temples and places of historical importance before they reach a stage of dilapidation. Nobody should have any apprehension that the Government would hand over any of its property to any private parties. The Government would have full control over the monuments," Ms. Raje said, addressing the party MLAs.

Rajasthan has some 225 notified monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India and over 100 under the State Archaeological Department.

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