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Thursday, Dec 09, 2004

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Centre has no role: Gehlot

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, DEC. 8. The former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Congress general secretary, Ashok Gehlot, today ruled out any role for the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre in resolving the ongoing farmers' agitation in Sriganganagar. "Neither the Prime Minister nor the Punjab Government has anything to do with the present crisis. It is all a matter of water management,'' he said.

"The Centre does not come into picture as it is all about proper distribution of the available water,'' he added. As for the dispute with Punjab, the Congress party in the State Assembly had promised all support to the initiatives from the State Government in this regard, he pointed out.

Only the other day the Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, had categorically stated that there was no solution in her hand for the water crisis in the canal areas of the State as water was to come from Punjab. She had sought the intervention of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in negotiating with Punjab for the full share of water to Rajasthan and also for a role in the administration of the Bhakra-Beas Management Board.

Mr.Gehlot, who addressed the media persons here today on his return after a tour of Sriganganagar, blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party Government in Rajasthan for the present situation in north western parts of the State. "The situation there is worrisome. Four towns are under curfew and there is widespread resentment among the public against the police and authorities,'' he noted.

Mr.Gehlot refuted the charge of Ms.Raje that the Congress and the Left parties were behind the farmers' agitation. "People from all political parties, including the BJP are involved,'' he said pointing out that the party had suspended some of its workers for their role. "Instead of making insinuations, the Chief Minister should take other parties into confidence for a peaceful solution. Violence is no answer,'' he said.

The Chief Minister's allegation that the present agitation was to make political gains in the coming panchayat elections too was banal, Mr.Gehlot said. "There are 32 districts in the State while the agitation is confined to a few districts,'' he pointed out.

He suggested Ms.Raje to make a visit to the affected areas to find the real position herself. "Her Government is not yet seized with the situation there. There is no administration in the whole area,'' he said.

Barring the State president, none of the senior BJP functionaries from the State or the Centre had visited the affected area so far, Mr.Gehlot noted.

A visit by Ms.Raje and withdrawal of the clauses of National Security Act against the farmers' leaders could help to facilitate a dialogue, he felt. The Chief Minister also should stop calling farmers leaders "goondas'' and "history sheeters'', he suggested.

Commenting on the performance of the Raje Government which celebrated its first anniversary today, Mr.Gehlot said there was nothing visible as achievement. "She did not keep her promises to the people. In the past I had suggested to the `Sarkar' to devote more time in Rajasthan but that went unheeded and the State is suffering,'' he said indirectly referring to the charge that Ms.Raje spends more time outside the State.

The State Government should release a white paper on the loans taken by it after coming to power in December 2003 and how it spent Rs.4,000 crores in just four months time in the year 2003-04 ,'' Mr.Gehlot said.

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