New Delhi, Jaipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the Congress party talks big in the name of farmers, but it neither does anything for them nor lets others do anything. Accusing the Congress of encouraging water disputes between states rather than resolving them, the Prime Minister said the delay in the implementation of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) is direct proof of the Congress’ “intention”.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the Ek Varsh-Parinaam Utkarsh event to mark the completion of the Rajasthan government’s one year in office. He also inaugurated or laid the foundation stones for 24 projects related to energy, roads, railways and water worth over ₹ 46,300 crore.
The ERCP envisages intra-basin transfer of water within the Chambal basin to provide it to 13 deficient districts of eastern Rajasthan. “The ERCP was delayed for so long by the Congress...this is also direct proof of the Congress’ intentions. They talk big in the name of farmers, but they neither do anything themselves for the farmers nor let others do anything,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project (integrated PKC-ERCP) will provide irrigation as well as drinking water facilities to 21 districts of Rajasthan and accelerate the development of both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
On various water disputes between states, Modi said while the BJP’s policy is to promote dialogue, the Congress continues to fan water discords. “The BJP’s policy is of dialogue, not of conflict. We believe in cooperation, not opposition. We believe in solutions, not disruption. Therefore, our government has approved and also expanded the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project. As soon as the BJP government was formed in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, an agreement was reached on the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal project,” he said.
Modi noted that he had launched a big campaign to bring Narmada water to different parts of Gujarat when he was the chief minister and alleged that the Congress and some NGOs adopted various tactics to prevent it. “The Congress never wants to reduce water problems. The water of our rivers used to flow across the borders, but our farmers did not get its benefits. Instead of finding a solution, the Congress continued to promote water disputes between states,” he said.
Pointing out that the BJP is getting huge public support in different states where elections were held, Modi said, “The nation has given the BJP the opportunity to serve the country for the third consecutive time in the Lok Sabha. This did not happen in India in the last 60 years.”
“Today, the BJP’s double-engine governments are becoming a symbol of good governance. Whatever resolution the BJP takes, it makes honest efforts to fulfil it. Today, the people of the country are saying that BJP is the guarantee of good governance,” Modi said and lauded the work of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma-led BJP government in the state.
“Bhairon Singh Shekhawat laid a strong foundation of development in Rajasthan. Vasundhara Raje took the legacy forward and now Bhajanlal Sharma’s government is engaged in further enriching good governance. Its impact can be seen in one year,” he said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that Rajasthan has ample potential for solar energy and it can become the leading state in the sector.
