Jaisalmer/Jaipur: Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot Sunday criticised the BJP-led state govt for alleged inadequate response to the drought-like conditions affecting western Rajasthan.Speaking at a farmers’ rally in Jaisalmer during a two-day visit to assess the drought’s impact and campaign for the ongoing Panchayati Raj elections, Gehlot accused the govt of failing to initiate relief measures.“If the situation is not monitored at the CM level and timely actions are not taken, people across the state will face immense hardship,” Gehlot said. He highlighted urgent issues such as livestock deaths, rising fodder prices and a serious water shortage, warning that the depletion of reservoirs in Rajasthan and northern India could lead to a crisis for both drinking water and irrigation in the coming months.Gehlot also addressed communal harmony in the border region amid govt actions against religious sites, commending local residents for their solidarity, irrespective of religious affiliations. He reiterated that the region’s long-standing tradition of brotherhood must be upheld and respected. During his visit, Gehlot offered prayers at Tanot Mata temple near the India-Pakistan border.Gehlot’s remarks extended beyond the drought crisis to address concerns about the fairness of the electoral process. Addressing the media in Jaipur before leaving for Jaisalmer, he criticised the delimitation process for the rural elections, alleging that it was manipulated in favour of BJP, similar to irregularities observed during recent urban local body elections. He alleged disparities in ward sizes, saying some contained as few as 85 voters while others had significantly larger populations. “I describe the way delimitation was carried out as dishonest,” he said, accusing ex-ministers Ghanshyam Tiwari, Rajendra Rathore and Arun Chaturvedi of manipulating the exercise.
