Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], September 8 : Senior Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas on Tuesday attacked the BJP government in Rajasthan over the state’s law and order, healthcare and development, alleging that the government has failed to deliver on its promises and urged people to vote against the party ahead of local body elections.
Addressing a press conference in Jaipur, Khachariyawas said Rajasthan has ranked number one in rape cases and questioned Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma over the condition of the state.
“Rajasthan has ranked number one in rape cases. The Chief Minister, who is conducting roadshows, should answer questions regarding the condition of Rajasthan,” he said.
He alleged that the state government has ruined the ‘Free Medicine Scheme’ and claimed that 22 women, including new mothers, died in government hospitals.
“The ‘Free Medicine Scheme’ has been ruined by the Chief Minister. Twenty-two women, including new mothers, died in government hospitals. Despite our objections, spurious medicines were procured by the government. They have committed a grave sin, and this will no longer be tolerated,” Khachariyawas said.
He said voters would focus on specific issues in the local body elections and alleged that this was the first time a Chief Minister had taken to the streets to campaign in local body polls.
“This is the first time a Chief Minister has taken to the streets for local body elections. This is because of the fear of defeat for the BJP and the Chief Minister. The roads in Sanganer are in shambles, and you will have to answer for it,” he said.
Khachariyawas also targeted the government over the condition of roads in the constituencies of Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari and Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
“If you visit Vidyadhar Nagar, Diya Kumari’s Assembly constituency, you will see that the roads deteriorate during the rains. Look at Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s constituency as well; the roads there are in poor condition,” he said.
He alleged that instead of focusing on local issues during the ongoing elections, the BJP was trying to settle political scores.
“Local body elections are underway in Rajasthan, yet the talk is all about settling scores with the BJP. We never expected the BJP to run out of steam in just two and a half years. The public had high hopes when they brought them to power,” Khachariyawas said.
He also accused the BJP of resorting to Hindu-Muslim rhetoric during Assembly elections and said its workers make tall claims before polls.
“When it comes to Assembly elections, the BJP resorts to Hindu-Muslim rhetoric. Their workers make tall claims before elections. Meanwhile, the price of sugar has risen across the country,” he said.
Khachariyawas further alleged that the Chief Minister had been campaigning across Rajasthan for the past four days while spending heavily.
“For the past four days, the Chief Minister has been campaigning across Rajasthan, spending lavishly. The BJP is distributing liquor during these elections,” he alleged.
Appealing to voters to defeat the BJP, he said the people of Rajasthan now had an opportunity to hold the government accountable for what he described as its “sins” and “betrayal” over the last two and a half years.
“I appeal to the people that the time has come to exact revenge for the sins committed and the betrayal of the people of Rajasthan by the BJP government over the last two and a half years—a veritable stab in the back,” he said.
“The voice of victory will be so resounding that they will be forced to mend their ways. If the people of Rajasthan want to correct the BJP and deflate their arrogance, they must vote against the party,” he added.
The Congress leader also alleged that the BJP government had halted projects worth Rs 2,000 crore in Jaipur and imposed user charges on water and electricity bills.
“This government halted projects worth Rs 2,000 crore in Jaipur. The government has imposed user charges on water and electricity bills. They are already collecting the UD tax, and now they have levied user charges as well. The air has changed in the last two and a half years,” he said.
Khachariyawas alleged that the government had failed to carry out development work and accused its ministers of being “complete failures”.
“They haven’t done any work; their ministers have been complete failures. They will have to answer for the Rs 100 crore related to the Govind Dev Ji temple. They spent Rs 100 crore on IIFA,” he said.
The urban local body polls are being closely watched as a test of the BJP government's performance and organisational strength at the grassroots level. The elections in Rajasthan are scheduled for September 9 and 11.