In a sharp pre-budget offensive, the Congress party in Rajasthan has declared its readiness to aggressively confront the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over critical issues of fiscal health and public safety during the upcoming legislative session.
Allegations of Fiscal Irresponsibility and Mounting Debt
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Tikaram Jully, on Monday launched a scathing attack on the state's financial management. He asserted that the Congress is fully prepared to corner the BJP-led state government in the imminent budget session. The primary focus will be on what he termed as severe fiscal mismanagement and the alarming escalation of Rajasthan's debt burden.
Jully specifically alleged that the government has failed to adhere to mandated Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) limits. He claimed these statutory boundaries, designed to ensure fiscal discipline, are being breached. "A major portion of people's hard-earned money is being spent only on paying interest," Jully stated, highlighting the strain of debt servicing on the state's resources.
He further criticized a broader trend of increasing indebtedness, remarking, "There seems to be a competition between the Centre and states on who can push the country and state deeper into debt."
Unrealistic Promises and Post-Announcement Scrutiny
The opposition leader also accused the Vasundhara Raje government of making grandiose but unrealistic budget announcements. According to Jully, the BJP regime has a pattern of making "tall promises" in its budget statements only to cancel them later, citing a lack of feasibility.
"For the first time, feasibility is being checked after announcements, when it should be done beforehand," he claimed, questioning the government's planning process. Expressing skepticism about the upcoming state budget, Jully predicted, "The upcoming budget, too, will be a mere formality."
Law and Order: A State of Insecurity?
Moving beyond economic issues, Tikaram Jully painted a grim picture of the law and order situation in Rajasthan. He listed a series of incidents to allege a breakdown in public safety and administrative negligence.
"Hospitals are catching fire, school buildings are collapsing, dumpers are crushing people on roads, and gangsters are openly firing bullets," Jully alleged. He concluded with a stark warning, claiming, "No one is safe," thereby directly challenging the government's claim of providing a secure environment for its citizens.
The strong accusations set the stage for a contentious Rajasthan budget session, where the opposition is poised to mount a significant challenge on the twin fronts of economic governance and public security. The government's response to these allegations will be closely watched.
