PROJECT WILL GET NATIONAL STATUS ONLY WITH EFFORTS OF ALL PARTIES: CM GEHLOT

Jaipur: Further pushing the demand for national project status to Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that the project is very important for ensuring water availability in 13 districts of the state. He said that ERCP would be declared a national project only with the efforts of all the parties. Gehlot called an allparty meeting on the ERCP issue at the CMR which was skipped by former CM Vasundhara Raje, leader of opposition Gulab Chand Kataria and BJP state president Satish Poonia. Targeting Raje for skipping the meeting, he said that earlier she was ready to attend the meeting but later she refused. He also questioned whether a yatra was important for Satish Poonia or the meeting on ERCP. Poonia is on a two-day yatra in Vagad region. “I blame Vasundhara ji, she did not come to this meeting.

 You tell her that we are working to carry forward her plan. Vasundhara ji should come and give thanks,” he told BJP leaders attending the meeting. “If the Prime Minister has said anything, then it is our duty to fulfill it,” he said.The CM also asked Dy LoP Rajendra Rathore that, “All the parties are of one opinion in getting status of national project for this scheme in Raj.” To which Rathore said, “The Centre should make it clear that this scheme cannot be started under any circumstances. If it is so, then why should the state government spend its money on this scheme?” he asked. The CM said that a special session of the Assembly on ERCP issue can be called. He also said that the BJP should thank the government for taking forward the plan. Citing the example of Speaker CP Joshi, he said that Joshi became the Railways Minister for 7 days and during this period, he announced MEMU coach factory in Bhilwara. “This is the power of the Union Minister,” he said. Mahendrajit S Malviya, Bhanwar S Bhati, GS Dotasra also spoke on the issue. Ramprasad, Dr Subhash Garg, Ramkesh Meena, Laxman Meena, Rampal Jat were also present.