Rajnath Singh is set to visit Rajasthan on Thursday to participate in the unveiling ceremonies of statues dedicated to former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and historical figure Rao Duda Mertia. The Defence Minister mentioned that his visit will cover two locations, Jodhpur and Merta. He stated that he will attend the statue unveiling ceremony of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in Jodhpur and the ceremony honoring Rao Duda Mertia in Merta, expressing his anticipation for the events.

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat served as the 11th Vice President of India and held the position of ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from 2002 to 2007. He entered public life in 1952 as a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and went on to serve three terms as Chief Minister of Rajasthan, leaving a long political legacy in the state. Rao Duda Mertia is remembered as a Rathore Rajput warrior and is credited with founding the Mertiya clan of the Rathores, making him an important historical and cultural figure in the Marwar region of Rajasthan.

In addition to the ceremonial visit, it has been reported that Rajnath Singh has chosen to reduce the size of his official convoy by more than half. This decision follows an appeal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraging citizens and officials to reduce fuel consumption amid global energy uncertainties and geopolitical tensions.

The Prime Minister had earlier issued several appeals urging people to adopt fuel-saving practices, increase the use of public transportation, encourage carpooling, and consider electric vehicles as alternatives. These steps were suggested as part of broader efforts to improve economic resilience and reduce dependency on imported fuel.

Following this initiative, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also scaled down his convoy size while ensuring that security protocols remained fully intact. Similar measures have been encouraged across various levels of government, including advisories for official fleets to gradually include electric vehicles wherever feasible, without making immediate large-scale replacements.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.