india

Updated: Aug 25, 2018 01:14 IST

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Friday promised fulfilment of long-pending demands of the Jaisalmer region even as she attacked the Congress for stalling works for five years sanctioned during her tenure in 2003-2008.

Raje promised allocation of land to landless farmers in Jaisalmer, basic amenities for people living in the desert national park (DNP) area and potable water to several villages under the Barmer lift water supply project and Pokaran-Falsund-Balotra-Siwana (PFBS) lift project.

Raje was addressing a public meeting in Jaisalmer as part of the second leg of her 40-day Gaurav Yatra. She also called some beneficiaries onto the stage who talked about the benefits they have received from the government.

Attacking the Congress, Raje said PFBS lift project was conceived in 2004 and the Rs 968-crore project was approved in 2005, but the Congress “put it in the cold storage” after coming to power in 2008. “Had they wanted they could have completed it, but they did not do it. When we came back in 2013, we again took it up.”

Raje listed figures, saying several villages have started getting water and more will get the supply soon.

During her more than 30-minute speech, Raje focused on the theme of nationalism and development, saying that Jaisalmer was known as the land of the brave. She recalled that as a minister during the Vajpayee era, she had visited families of the martyrs of the Kargil war.

Raje also attacked the Congress over the Barmer refinery, saying Congress had misled the people by conducting a foundation stone-laying ceremony in a hurry without proper permissions as model code of conduct was to come into force.

“We have saved money on the project and work has started on the ground, and Rs 400 crore has already been spent,” she said. Raje assured people living in DNP that they will get basic amenities like electricity, water and roads in due course of time.

“We have made management plan. Works have been identified and we have talked to the state wildlife board. We will do the work. It was tough, because Delhi was also involved,” she said.

She also promised land allocation, called “Barani bhumi avantan”, for landless farmers even as she attacked the Congress for getting the allocation stuck for 40 years.

“We will do it in phase-wise manner, and by following proper rules,” she said. Raje also dedicated some projects to public. I am like a mother and Rajasthan is my family. You all know how a mother fights for her family. Congress will try to mislead you, but don’t listen to them. I just want your love,” Raje said.

The chief minister’s rally was delayed by two hours. She later left for Ramdevra to visit the Ramshah Pir samadhi.