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BJP has no time for drought, but plenty for elections: Ashok Gehlot

November 28, 2003 20:12 IST

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said Bharatiya Janata Party leaders could not spare time to visit Rajasthan when the state was facing a drought but were all over the place at the time of elections.

He accused its leaders of conspiring to delay central assistance to create 'anarchy' in drought and famine hit areas to get political mileage. "They have no moral right to seek votes from the people of Rajasthan after their behaviour," Gehlot told reporters in Jaipur on Friday.

Describing it as 'worthless opposition', he said the BJP's aggressive negative campaign would be the biggest issue during the December 1 assembly polls in Rajasthan.

Regarding his government's performance, he said, "We fulfilled almost all promises made by us in our poll manifesto five years back."

He went so far as to claim the Congress government had already implemented some of the promises made in the BJP's manifesto.

Gehlot denied any anger among state government employees. "We have been taking better care of our staff than our counterparts in other states. However, the state government could not concede several of their demands because of financial constraints and repeated droughts," he said adding, "We shall restore the benefits as soon as the financial situation of the state improves."

Regarding reservation to upper caste people on economic basis, Gehlot said, "We have done our job by making a formal request to the Centre. The ball is now in the Centre's court." He denied the Congress was indulging in caste politics as it is not in the interest of the state.


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