Political tensions are escalating in Rajasthan as Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully has accepted the debate challenge put forth by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. The challenge centers on a comparison of the performance of the Congress. Government's five-year tenure versus the current BJP government's two years in office. Jully unequivocally stated that the Chief Minister should decide the time and place, and either he himself or any Congress leader would be ready for the debate. He reiterated that Congress wouldn't shy away from this debate, both inside and outside the assembly.
Questioning Two Years of Government Work
While the BJP government in Rajasthan is presenting its report card to the public on completing two years, Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully held a press conference in Jaipur to raise serious questions about the government's performance. He declared the 'double engine' government a failure on all fronts, including several critical issues concerning farmers, youth, and the general public. Jully accused the government of failing to fulfill its promises and being disconnected from ground realities.
Unfulfilled Promises to Farmers
Tika Ram Jully specifically targeted the government over its unfulfilled promises to farmers. He stated that the government had pledged to increase the Kisan Samman Nidhi amount to Rs 12,000, but this promise remains unfulfilled to date. Plus, farmers aren't receiving the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on time, causing significant difficulties in selling their produce. The scarcity of fertilizers also continues to be a major problem, causing distress among farmers. The state is also grappling with water and electricity crises, and despite promising daytime electricity, the government is supplying power at night during winter, exacerbating farmers' hardships.
Cattle Insurance Scheme and Fuel Prices
Jully also raised concerns about the Pashu Bima Yojana (Cattle Insurance Scheme) for livestock owners. He pointed out that while the government promised to extend the benefits of this scheme to all livestock owners, only 20 lakh animals have been insured so far, which is a very small fraction of the total livestock. Also, the government has failed to deliver on its promise to reduce petrol and diesel prices, continuously burdening the common public with inflation. He cited an example of an overseas Indian who told him that his work in the Rajasthan government had not been completed to date, which raises questions about the government's efficiency.
Questions on SIR Draft and Voter Lists
Tika Ram Jully outright rejected the government's claim of fulfilling 72 percent of its promises, stating that the ground reality tells a different story. He highlighted that the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aimed to provide water to all households by 2025, has not yet been completed. He revealed that out of 2717 announcements made in the government's two budgets, work has only commenced on 754, indicating slow progress and inefficiency, while Also, the government lacks clear information regarding the 08 lakh crore rupees in MoUs (Memoranda of Understanding) and has not specified how many of these MoUs have actually materialized on the ground.
During the press conference, Tika Ram Jully also raised serious questions about the SIR (Special Identification Report) draft, targeting both the government and relevant agencies. He alleged that a BLO (Booth Level Officer) committed suicide due to the SIR. Jully questioned the necessity of such a campaign when voter list work is conducted twice a year, while he stated that it has become difficult for the poor and labor class to protect their votes. While the government talks about apprehending infiltrators, it has not provided any answer regarding how many infiltrators have been caught so far. He announced that Congress would review all voter lists to expose any irregularities.
Allegations of Transfer Policy Failure and Corruption
Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully also accused the BJP government of failing to implement its promised transfer policy. He remarked that the situation is so dire that the Chief Secretary himself sought a transfer and left. He reiterated that farmers aren't receiving adequate water or electricity, causing them distress. Jully asserted that due to the government's policies, farmers, laborers, employees, and youth all feel cheated, while he alleged that the government is evading questions, but Congress will continue to raise the public's concerns.
In the press conference, Deputy Leader of Opposition Ramkesh Meena and Chief Whip Rafiq Khan also accused the government of promoting corruption. They stated that the government had promised to eradicate corruption, but today, corruption in Rajasthan has crossed all limits. They pointed out that even when someone is caught in corruption, the government doesn't grant prosecution sanction, thereby protecting corrupt individuals. Ramkesh Meena also added that the current government abolished districts created during the Congress government's tenure, and crime has increased in those areas where districts were dissolved, leading to a deterioration of law and order.
