Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot Critique Rajasthan Budget
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Synopsis
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and ex-Deputy CM Sachin Pilot have criticized the Rajasthan government's budget for ignoring PM Modi's pre-election promises, highlighting unfulfilled commitments to farmers, inadequate job creation, and stalled infrastructure projects.
Key Takeaways
- Ashok Gehlot criticizes budget for failing to meet PM Modi's promises.
- Budget allocates Rs 9,000 instead of promised Rs 12,000 to farmers.
- Sachin Pilot calls budget unrealistic and detrimental to the poor.
- Concerns raised over stalled infrastructure projects.
- Government's job creation promises remain unclear.
Jaipur, Feb 19 (NationPress) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot vehemently denounced the Rajasthan government’s budget, claiming it ignored the pre-election promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He asserted that the budget did not deliver on the pledges made to the people of Rajasthan, indicating that PM Modi’s assurances were merely electoral talk. Gehlot emphasized that on November 18, 2023, PM Modi had promised farmers in Rajasthan an annual aid of Rs 12,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.
Yet, the state budget has allocated only Rs 9,000 per farmer. Additionally, on November 19, 2023, PM Modi had assured that the prices of petrol and diesel in Rajasthan would align with those in Haryana. However, petrol remains Rs 10 cheaper per litre in Haryana compared to Rajasthan.
He also condemned the BJP’s inability to adhere to its Minimum Support Price (MSP) promises.
While the party had committed to MSP procurement for millets and wheat at Rs 2,700 per quintal, the budget neglects millet procurement and merely offers a Rs 150 bonus on wheat, which had already been established before 2014.
Gehlot pointed out that under the Rajasthan Minimum Guarantee Act, his administration had secured a 15 percent annual increase in social security pensions.
Simultaneously, Congress National General Secretary and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot also criticized the state budget, describing it as unrealistic and detrimental to the interests of the impoverished and ordinary citizens.
Pilot accused the state government of making new announcements without addressing the promises made in the prior budget.
Pilot stated that, along with new initiatives, the government should have provided clarity on their practical implementation.
Pilot highlighted that while the budget proposed an employment policy and the creation of 1.25 lakh government jobs for the youth, the government has yet to clarify the status of last year’s commitment to provide one lakh government jobs.
He also expressed concerns regarding the non-payment of unemployment allowances to educated job seekers.
Concerning infrastructure, he noted the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028, yet large-scale projects worth thousands of crores are stalled due to pending tenders for over a year.
“Similarly, under the Amrit 2.0 scheme, the government failed to utilize even a single rupee from the allocated Rs 5,000 crore for urban drinking water systems last year, only to repeat the same announcement in this budget,” Pilot remarked.
Regarding the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), Pilot questioned the government’s financial planning.
“While the government claims to have issued work orders worth Rs 9,500 crore and invited tenders worth Rs 12,000 crore, only Rs 200 crore has been allocated in the budget, with no funds designated under the central scheme,” he added.
