On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Parvati-Kalsindh-Chambal Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP), a major initiative aimed at overcoming water scarcity in Rajasthan. The project, worth over Rs 46,000 crore, will connect 11 rivers and benefit multiple districts in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. However, the Congress party has raised concerns, calling the project a false claim and questioning why it has not been granted national project status.
Govind Singh Dotasara, President of Rajasthan Congress, criticized the BJP government on its first anniversary, accusing them of failing to fulfill the public’s expectations. Dotasara questioned why the PKC-ERCP was not declared a national project, despite repeated promises by the Prime Minister. He reminded that the Congress government had already made significant strides in water supply projects, such as the Indira Gandhi and Kumbharam Canal Projects, and had approved providing water to areas like Neemkathana and Khetri in 2023.
Dotasara also responded to Modi’s comments on paper leaks, stating that when exams are not held, there can be no leaks. He criticized the BJP for offering only contractual jobs and misleading claims about lowering fuel prices in Rajasthan. He called for a white paper on the ERCP-PKC project to ensure transparency. The Rajasthan State Congress Committee (RSCC) held a significant meeting today, led by RSCC President Govind Singh Dotasara. The Leader of Opposition, Tikaram Julie, also attended the meeting, where discussions were centered on strengthening the party’s presence, particularly through the ongoing Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyan. This two-month-long campaign aims to raise awareness and solidify the Congress Party’s position across Rajasthan.
During the meeting, Dotasara assigned responsibilities to party officials to help drive the success of the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyan. He emphasized the importance of unity within the party and urged officials to work together to strengthen Congress’s efforts. Dotasara noted that a unified approach would be crucial in challenging the BJP’s “anti-people” policies and achieving success in Rajasthan’s political landscape. Leader of Opposition, Tikaram Julie, stressed the need for collective action to confront the BJP’s leadership and make meaningful progress in the state.
Talking to media Dotasara expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Rajasthan, marking the completion of one year of the BJP government in the state. Dotasara highlighted that the people of Rajasthan had placed their trust in PM Modi, expecting him to fulfill the promises made during the election campaign. However, according to Dotasara, the Prime Minister’s speech was filled with false claims, and the public’s expectations were left unmet.
Dotasara raised questions about why the BJP government had not granted national project status to the ERCP, a critical initiative for addressing Rajasthan’s water scarcity. He reminded the gathering that the previous Congress government had approved over Rs 8,700 crore for water projects, including the Indira Gandhi Canal Project, which aimed to provide water to regions like Khetri, Sujangarh, and Laxmangarh. Despite these substantial investments, Dotasara criticized the BJP for claiming credit for these Congress-led initiatives and misrepresenting the facts to the public.
Dotasara also took aim at the BJP’s promises regarding employment and recruitment. He pointed out the limited scope of the BJP government’s recruitment efforts, stating that only a few jobs had been announced for Class IV employees, most of which were contractual positions.
Dotasara emphasized that the BJP’s promises of job creation had not materialized, with only around 6,000 jobs being announced for other roles. This, he said, was insufficient to address the growing unemployment crisis in the state.
Leader of Opposition, Tikaram Julie, also called for the state government to release a white paper on the ERCP issue to ensure transparency and accountability. He emphasized that the BJP government had failed to address the water crisis in Rajasthan and had been playing political games with the issue. Julie reiterated the importance of granting national project status to the ERCP and pledged that the Congress Party would continue to hold the BJP accountable for its inaction and misleading claims.
