Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has expressed a strong reaction to the Union Budget presented by the Modi government in Parliament today. Describing this budget as dashing the hopes of Rajasthan, Gehlot has accused the central government of ‘step-motherly treatment’ towards the state.

Ashok Gehlot said that it is very unfortunate that the country’s largest state Rajasthan was not even mentioned in the budget speech. Calling it an insult to the people of Rajasthan, he said that the state had great expectations from this budget, but Rajasthan was completely missing from the Finance Minister’s speech.

Silence on ERCP and development projects

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot especially raised the issue of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). He said, “The Center has not announced any clear roadmap or special financial assistance for such a big project to quench the thirst of the state. The absence of any new railway project or metro project for Rajasthan in the budget shows that the development of Rajasthan is not the priority of the Centre.

Disappointment faced by the poor and unorganized sector

Describing the budget as against the common man, Gehlot said that there is no major provision of relief for the poor, workers and a large population of the unorganized sector. Amidst rising inflation and unemployment, this class was expecting some big scheme from this budget, but their hands remained empty.

‘High shop, dull dish’

Taking a dig at the claims of the double engine government, Gehlot termed this budget as ‘damp squib’ (high shop, dull dish) in the context of Rajasthan. He said that despite BJP government in the state, Rajasthan not getting anything in the budget proves that the talk of ‘double engine’ is just an election slogan and in reality no benefit of it is visible on the ground.

This reaction of Ashok Gehlot makes it clear that in the coming days, the opposition will intensify its siege of the government for ignoring Rajasthan and development projects.