'Panicky' Gehlot misusing public money for election: Raje

The Congress government in Rajasthan is "blatantly misusing" public money for election purpose and doling out freebies as it is worried over the "success" of BJP's state-wide yatra, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje alleged today.
"Public funds are being used for elections by the present government. It has never happened anywhere before," Raje said, adding "the Congress-led government is frustrated and panic stricken over the success of Suraj Sankalp Yatra" ahead of assembly polls slated for later this year.
Taking stock of preparation at the venue for Narendra Modi's rally on September 10, Raje said, "In its five-year tenure, the Ashok Gehlot government has failed to provide basic services like water, power and roads to the people."

Claiming that number of unemployed youths was rising in the state, she said the government had failed to create jobs.
Taking a dig at the proposed trial run of Jaipur Metro rail on September 18, the BJP state unit chief said, "By flagging off the Metro rail, the government might dazzle public eyes, but it would have adverse impact on the city's skyline, tourism and heritage."
Addressing Chief Minister Gehlot, she said, "You are in a hurry to flag off the Metro rail.... The city's skyline, tourism and heritage would be damaged due to over-ground metro rail."

Raje said the state government, afraid of the success of the state-wide yatra carried out by her, went on a spree of giving a number of "muft sogat" (free gifts) through various schemes in medical, education, information technology related fields.

"In last 65 years, barring a few years of BJP government, Congress has ruled the state. But basic amenities like water, road, power have not reached the common man," she said.
"When my tenure ended in 2008, we left revenue surplus of Rs 7,000 crore.... Now the Congress government has messed up the economy," she said.
Several medical and health schemes had been announced, but hospitals in rural areas were in a very bad shape, and barring one hospital in Chirana in Jhunjhunu district, no gynaecologist was available in any rural health centre of the state, she claimed.
"Corruption is rampant in the Congress government, particularly in housing sector," Raje said.