Jaipur, February 7: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma recently compared his government’s two-year tenure to the five years of the previous Congress administration. However, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to social media to counter Sharma’s claims of ‘good governance,’ highlighting issues of mismanagement within the state.
Gehlot alleged that the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) is faltering due to inadequate funding and poor management, revealing that medicine suppliers are owed nearly ₹800 crore. He stated that payments should be made within 21 days, yet files have reportedly been pending in the secretariat for six months. This delay is adversely affecting millions of elderly citizens and government employees suffering from serious illnesses.
Criticizing the Chief Minister, Gehlot remarked that while Sharma made grand claims during his two-hour speech in the assembly about ‘five years versus two years,’ the reality is that elderly pensioners and ailing government employees are struggling to obtain necessary medications.
He emphasized that the ₹800 crore owed to medicine suppliers under the RGHS scheme should have been paid within the stipulated time, but the prolonged delays have left elderly pensioners returning empty-handed from pharmacies, forcing them to bear the burden of expensive private treatments. Gehlot pointed out that it is easy to criticize the previous government from a position of power, but maintaining the services provided to the public is far more challenging.
He urged the Chief Minister not to limit himself to speeches but to ensure immediate payments to meet the needs of elderly citizens. Earlier, during a budget discussion, Sharma claimed that his government has achieved more development in roads, electricity, and agriculture in two years than the Congress government did in five. However, Gehlot refuted this, stating that development should be measured not just by statistics but by the continuous availability of essential public services. He warned that withholding funds is detrimental to previous welfare schemes.
–