Rajasthan Minister Hits Back at Ashok Gehlot Over Budget Files Controversy

Jaipur, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : Minister of Public Health Engineering, Kanhaiya Lal Chaudhary, has sharply criticized former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot regarding his recent video series on “budget files.” Chaudhary accused Gehlot’s previous Congress government of turning the Jal Jeevan Mission into a hub of corruption.

He pointed out that Gehlot is now questioning a scheme that saw significant irregularities during his own tenure. Referring to Gehlot’s criticism as ironic, Chaudhary quoted a Hindi proverb, “Sau choohe khake billi haj ko chali,” suggesting that Gehlot is trying to lecture the current government despite his administration’s record.

Chaudhary alleged that between 2018 and 2023, the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission tarnished Rajasthan’s reputation due to widespread irregularities. He claimed that while pipelines were reportedly laid on paper, the reality was vastly different. Water tanks were constructed without connections, and there were substantial financial misappropriations.

He noted that the former Minister of Public Health Engineering had even faced imprisonment over corruption allegations. According to Chaudhary, the Congress government mismanaged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious initiative to provide tap water to every household.

He asserted that over ₹1,000 crores allocated for the mission during Gehlot’s administration went unspent, lapsing beyond the deadline. Chaudhary mentioned that Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had to approach the central government in Delhi to request an extension, which later facilitated better fund utilization and revitalized the mission.

Chaudhary highlighted that the current government is accelerating the implementation of this scheme, having already provided tap water connections to over 1.5 million rural families. He directly questioned Gehlot about why pipelines were allegedly laid only on paper during his rule, why water tanks were not connected to the supply network, and what actions were taken against those responsible for the corruption.

In discussing water security initiatives, Chaudhary emphasized that the Bhajan Lal Sharma government is making significant strides towards making Rajasthan self-sufficient in water resources. He revealed that work orders worth ₹26,000 crores have already been issued under the Ram Jal Setu Link Project. He also shed light on efforts to secure additional water resources through the Yamuna Water Agreement and the Kishau Dam Agreement, which are expected to benefit the Shekhawati region.

In closing, Chaudhary alleged that the Gehlot government allowed the Jal Jeevan Mission to fall prey to corruption, while the current administration is focused on reviving the initiative and speeding up its implementation.