BJP's yatra begins in Bikaner sans MLAs

BIKANER: The commencement of BJP's Suraaj Sankalp Yatra in Bikaner division on Tuesday was marked by factional rivalry within the party with two sitting MLAs choosing to stay away.
Kolayat MLA Devi Singh Bhati and Bikaner (East) MLA Siddhi Kumari were missing from the yatra which started from Mukam village (Nokha) on Tuesday. While the state BJP is working overtime to send a message of unity, Bikaner division is one of the worst affected in terms of internal differences. Not just the legislators, differences run down to the bottom at the workers level. Senior state leaders had taken stock of the situation there last week to ensure that the differences do not surface during the yatra. However, with the legislators staying away, the efforts seemed futile.
Addressing the meeting, Raje said that if BJP returns to power, she will ensure supply of Himalayan water for drinking for Nokha people who are presently compelled to consume fluoride mixed water. She said that during her regime as CM, a single-phase electricity connection was given to the villagers with power supply for 18-20 hours, but now villages are receiving electricity supply only for 3-4 hours only. Electricity transformers were made available to the desirous people within 72 hours, which is now taking a time of more than a month, she added.
Raje alleged that sufficient number of doctors and nurses are not available in the hospitals, dispensaries and PHCs and people are left with no other option but to approach private hospitals and clinics. She alleged that educational institutes are being shut down in the guise of "samanikaran".
Vasundhara Raje said that BJP government will ensure vast opportunities of employment for youth of the state. She alleged that the ruling Congress is misguiding the public by its wrong recruitment policies due to which people are approaching courts and which ultimately resulted in non-recruitment.
Vasundhara Raje didn't pass any comment over the prevailing issue of resignation of L K Advani from the key posts of the party. She also didn't reply to the questions relating to rift between Narendra Modi and LK Advani.
Bikaner MP Arjun Ram Meghwal, MLAs Gopal Joshi and Vishwanath Meghwal, MP and Raje's son Dushyant Singh along with Kalicharan Saraf and Suman Sharma were present.