Congress misleading public on social media: Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma

Jaipur, Jun 23 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Monday accused Congress leaders of misleading the public on social media and defended his government's performance.

Speaking at an event to commemorate Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee's death anniversary at the state BJP headquarters here, Sharma slammed former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra.

"He (Gehlot) has become a social media expert who tries to confuse people with daily tweets (posts on X). Before tweeting, he should look at newspaper reports from his own tenure to compare the situation that prevailed then with the current scenario," he said.

Criticising the Congress's governance track record, Sharma said, "The Congress gave slogans but failed to deliver on the ground. Now, it is trying to mislead people with statements." The chief minister also responded to Dotasra's remarks about his administration being unresponsive, saying, "Those accusing the government are the same people known for doing politics from hotels. Our government is among the people and focussed on basic needs like electricity, roads and water." Reiterating the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) governance agenda, Sharma said his government is committed to ensuring at least 5,000 villages with no below-poverty-line (BPL) residents through the "Vande Gangajal Abhiyan" and targeted schemes.

"We have already released Rs 300 crore for this initiative and will achieve the target during the ongoing fortnightly campaign," he said.

"Dr Mookerjee's slogan of 'One Nation, One Constitution' was not just political rhetoric, it was a call for national unity and integrity," Sharma said, calling for efforts to realise his vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Highlighting the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) growth trajectory, he said, "From a 14-member party, the Jana Sangh has evolved into a 14-crore-strong organisation. This is the result of ideological commitment and work at the grassroots-level." Taking a swipe at the Congress, Sharma said, "The Congress, which once spanned from panchayat to Parliament, declined when it abandoned its ideological foundation. Its slogan of poverty alleviation only led to exploitation." Comparing the performance of his administration with the previous government in the desert state, the chief minister said, "In a year and a half, we have surpassed the Congress's five-year record in electricity generation and connection distribution. They tweet, we work on the ground." He said the BJP's Antyodaya campaign, launched on Monday, will intensify outreach and ensure that government benefits reach the last person in the queue. PTI AG RC