Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) directed an investigation into the allegations of irregularities in the purchase of food items at residential hostels for children belonging to tribal communities. The direction came in the Question Hour following the reply of a Minister.
Opposition Congress MLAs expressed dissatisfaction with Tribal Area Development Minister Babulal Kharadi’s reply to a question regarding the prices and quality of food items supplied to the hostels. The House witnessed heated exchanges between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition members on the issue.
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“A thorough investigation will be conducted in the matter,” Mr. Devnani said amid disruptions in the House, as the Congress legislators raised a question over variations in procurement rates for food items at different hostels and alleged irregularities in the process. The original question was asked by Banswara MLA Arjun Singh Bamaniya.
Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully said the regular tender process had been discontinued for the last two years and the funds were being deposited directly into the accounts of hostel wardens. “Ghee is purchased at ₹400 per litre at some places and ₹800 at some others. This is direct robbery of the food for tribal children… The Minister has not given a clear answer on the open loot,” he said.
