Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma received a rousing welcome on Tuesday, 30 June 2025 upon his return to Jaipur after signing the Yamuna Water Project Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), a deal projected to bring Yamuna water to the drought-prone Shekhawati region for the first time. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, public representatives, and residents lined the route from Jaipur Airport to the Chief Minister's residence to greet him.

What the Yamuna Water Project Entails

The project, estimated to cost over ₹34,000 crore, will transport Yamuna water to the districts of Jhunjhunu, Churu, and Sikar through a 3.6-metre-diameter pipeline. Chief Minister Sharma described 29 June as a 'historic day' for Rajasthan, saying the project would transform agriculture, tourism, industry, and local employment in the Shekhawati belt.

The groundwork began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17 February 2024, following which a task force was constituted and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared. Sharma credited close coordination between the state government, the Centre, and the Haryana government for expediting the initiative.

Sharma's Remarks and Political Barbs

Addressing supporters, Sharma congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of Rajasthan's eight crore people, calling the agreement a watershed moment for the state. Taking a direct jab at Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Sharma said: 'While LoP Rahul Gandhi claims he will turn potatoes into gold, his government will bring Yamuna water to Shekhawati and farmers will produce gold from their fields.'

He accused the Indian National Congress (Congress) of failing to deliver the long-pending project despite holding power in both Rajasthan and Haryana at various points. Sharma alleged that successive Congress governments offered only 'false assurances' to the people of Shekhawati and never made serious efforts to coordinate between the two states. He also pointed to the Haryana Congress's election manifesto, claiming it had promised to scrap the Yamuna water agreement, and questioned why former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had remained silent on the matter.

Broader Infrastructure Push

Beyond the Yamuna project, Sharma noted that work is progressing on several other major water infrastructure initiatives, including the Ramjal Setu Link Project, the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP), the Gang Canal, and the Dewas and Mahi projects. He also stated that farmers in 26 districts now receive daytime electricity and that Rajasthan has become a power-surplus state.

The Chief Minister announced that Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Rajasthan on 4 July to inaugurate the Pachpadra Refinery in Balotra, lay the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase II, and distribute appointment letters to thousands of newly recruited youths. Sharma claimed that more than 1.25 lakh government jobs have been provided during the BJP government's tenure without any paper leak incidents.

BJP Leadership Weighs In

BJP Rajasthan president Madan Rathore described the Yamuna water agreement as a historic achievement, crediting the BJP governments at the Centre, in Rajasthan, and in Haryana for making the project a reality. Drawing a comparison with the mythological figure Bhagirath, Rathore said Chief Minister Sharma had played a transformative role in bringing Yamuna water to Rajasthan after decades of waiting, noting that the Shekhawati region had been seeking the project since 1994.

With PM Modi's visit on 4 July set to mark several more inaugurations, the BJP appears keen to sustain the political momentum from the water pact into a broader governance narrative ahead of future electoral cycles.