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Centre not giving enough aid, says Rajasthan Govt.

Special Correspondent

Launch of drought relief work in the State

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Relief Minister Kirorilal Meena on Sunday accused the United Progressive Alliance Government in the Centre of not providing adequate assistance to the State Government for launching drought relief works despite the demand for allocation of foodgrain and cash component having been made six months ago.

Mr. Meena said the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, coming here on Monday on a two-day tour of the State, should take stock of the ground situation of relief measures with the State Government finding it difficult to pay wages to labourers. "The Centre has not sanctioned a single penny to Rajasthan under the relief head in 2005-06,'' Mr. Meena charged at a press conference.

Mr. Meena, while pointing out that the Centre had only allocated 2-lakh metric tonnes of foodgrain against the demand for 15.86-lakh metric tonnes, said Ms. Gandhi would be well-advised to reflect on the "political witch-hunt'' by the UPA Government against the BJP-led Government in the State. "There is no other reason why the desert State should be denied assistance to extend relief to poor and drought-affected villagers," he said.

The Minister said the previous National Democratic Alliance Government in the Centre had generously given assistance to Rajasthan till 2002-03 when the Congress was in power in the State. He claimed that the UPA's "prejudice'' had led to hardship and distress for people for no fault of theirs.

Mr. Meena said the BJP activists would submit memoranda to Ms. Gandhi at all the places where she stops over and interacts with labourers, seeking her intervention to help provide succour to villagers. Ms. Gandhi is scheduled to visit Jaisalmer and Jaipur districts during her visit.

The ruling party has decided to seek Ms. Gandhi's intervention in the matter after the State Government's repeated requests to the Centre during the past few months reportedly elicited no response. Mr. Meena said it was a strange instance of the Central Government denying funds to a State for relief in the drought spell.

Mr. Meena, providing details of relief works, said engagement of 17.46-lakh labourers across the State till June 10 "without any irregularities reported" was enough to repudiate the charge of Opposition Congress of not opening adequate works.

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