Rajasthan CM says Budget fulfils promises; Congress calls it ‘illusion of figures’

“…we have accomplished more than 50 per cent of the Sankalp Patra in one year… it is the first green Budget of the state based on inclusive development for the welfare of all people, which will ensure sustainable development of the state in the coming times,” he said at a post-Budget press conference.

Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully addresses the media in Jaipur, Wednesday. (Rohit Jain Paras)

BJP state president Madan Rathore said the Budget will push growth rate in the state.

“The state Budget will boost the economy of Rajasthan and push to an unprecedented inclusive growth,” he said.

Education Minister Madan Dilawar said the Budget is in line with public aspirations and will promote innovation in the field of education.

Terming the Budget as disappointment, the Congress, criticised the ruling party for not implementing the promises made in the last Budget.

After the Budget, state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra addressed the media and said, “The BJP has served “nayi bottle main purani sharbat” (old juice in a new bottle) in this Budget.”

He said that in the name of social security, the state government has cheated the deprived class, backward class, and the elderly.

He said the youth, backward, Dalit, tribal and women are disappointed with the Budget.

“The government has not done anything to give anything to anyone. This is only an illusion of figures,” he said.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the Budget has once again proved to be heavier than “Modi’s guarantee”.

He said the Prime Minister had promised in Rajasthan on November 18, 2023 that as soon as the BJP government is formed here, the farmers will start getting Rs 12,000 under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, but the BJP government has been able to give only Rs 9,000 under the second Budget as well.

“On November 19, 2023, the Prime Minister promised in Churu that after the formation of BJP government in Rajasthan, the prices of petrol and diesel will become equal to the neighboring state of Haryana, but as soon as it came to power, the BJP government has forgotten this guarantee and in Haryana, petrol is available 10 rupees cheaper than Rajasthan,” the former CM posted on X.

Gehlot said a few days ago, Chief Minister Sharma had said that production in Barmer refinery would start by April 2025, which has now been shifted to August 2025.

Former Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot described the Budget as beyond reality and against the interests of the poor and the common man. He said that the government made new announcements but has failed to tell what is the status of the announcements made in the previous Budget.

Pilot issued a press note stating that implementation of employment policy and announcement of 1.25 lakh government jobs for the youth has been made, but the government should present the figures as to what happened to the promises of giving one lakh government jobs made last year.

He said, “Unemployment allowance is not being given to educated unemployed, which is a matter of concern. The period of Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended till 2028 but tenders for large projects worth thousands of crores are pending for the last one year. Similarly, in the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, not even a single penny could be spent out of the Rs 5,000 crore for drinking water system of cities in the last one year and then the same was announced in this Budget.”

Bhartiya Adivasi Party MLAs also protested against the government and held banners in front of the Assembly for not releasing Rs 1,500 crore fund allocated in 2024-25 Budget for the development of tribal areas in the state. They blamed the government for its neglect.

Reacting to the Budget, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Tikaram Jully said, “This Budget is only going to put the burden of debt on the people of Rajasthan.”

“The financial management of the state government has completely failed, which is clearly visible in the Budget. In the last Budget, it was estimated that there would be revenue receipts of about Rs 2.65 lakh crore, but the target could not be met and only Rs 2.62 lakh crore have been made, while more help has been received from the central government than before. The fiscal deficit has also crossed Rs 70,000 crore, which will increase to Rs 84,643 crore this fiscal. The debt burden on Rajasthan is continuously increasing under the BJP government and in the coming days, the debt on this government will cross Rs 7.25 lakh crore, that is, this government is going to impose a debt of Rs 1 lakh on every Rajasthani.”

Earlier before the Budget was presented, Dotasra said that the internal conflict among BJP ministers was at its peak. “A cabinet minister is served show-cause notice for indiscipline after he blames the party for phone tapping. Bajiri is illegally extracted from the Bisalpur area worth Rs 7 crore every day and the government has not taken any step to stop it. It is to be noted that over 70% of the announcements made in last year’s Budget is yet to be implemented. So, it is to be seen what will the BJP do in this Budget,” said Dotasra.

With PTI inputs