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Jan Morcha accuses Rajasthan Govt. of manipulating voters

JAIPUR: The newly-established Rajasthan Jan Morcha has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government in the State of indulging in electoral malpractices by announcing largesse to “influence voters” in the run-up to the Assembly elections due later this year and ordering transfers of officers to improve its electoral prospects.

The Jan Morcha – set up as a loose confederation of civil rights groups – said at a convention here on Saturday that the BJP had deployed a systematic strategy to influence the electorate at the cost of State exchequer. The recent announcement of the Bhamashah economic empowerment scheme was stated to be a “blatant misuse” of executive powers.

People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) State president Prem Krishna Sharma said that the State Government was planning to distribute money to the tune of Rs.1,000 crore under the scheme without any tangible gain to the target population. The scheme also provides for payment of incentives to the revenue employees who are already paid salaries.

The scheme, announced by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje at a meeting of Collectors who are also District Election Officers, has made an ad hoc provision for transfer of grant of Rs.1,500 to the bank accounts of each of the 59.53 lakh target families. The beneficiaries will be free to withdraw the money just on the eve of elections.

“Such a gigantic scheme cannot be implemented within a period of two months and its operation will circumvent the code of conduct which will be applicable by the time the polls are held,” said Mr. Sharma. The PUCL has also lodged a complaint in this regard with the Chief Election Officer of the State.

The participants in the convention were of the opinion that instead of announcing a “populist” scheme, the State Government should have made available opportunities and resources to the people to enable them to get right to work and earn their livelihood in a dignified manner.

They said that the Government should rather have facilitated establishment of cottage and other industries to create employment opportunities.

The Jan Morcha convention also flayed the State Government’s drive against the alleged Bangladeshi migrants with the charge of their involvement in the May 13 serial blasts in Jaipur.

Rajasthan Samgra Seva Sangh president Sawai Singh said that reducing the localities of alleged Bangladeshis to rubble formed part of the BJP’s “cynical ploy” to grab their land.

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