BHAJAN’S ‘ALL-INCLUSIVE’ ACCOUNT FOR VOTE!

Jaipur: In a bonanza for farmers, youth, and women ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Bhajan Lal government of Rajasthan on Thursday announced an additional annual payout of Rs 2,000 to farmers under the Centre’s flagship scheme PMKISAN as well as hiked the minimum support price for wheat by Rs 125 to Rs 2,400 per quintal, provision of Rs 1,000 crore to establish and upgrade schools, colleges, hospitals, and administrative buildings, and recruitment to fill 70,000 posts. These were the key announcements in Rajasthan’s Vote on Account (budget) 2024-25 presented on Thursday by Deputy CM and Finance Minister Diya Kumari. During her speech, Kumari accused former govt of financial mismanagement, corruption, lack of vision, and held it responsible for the financial burden on the state and electricity companies. The remarks triggered a ruckus in the HAssembly following which Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma requested members to listen to the Budget speech “by a woman finance minister”.