Congress Leadership Rallies Behind Hemaram Choudhary's Barmer Protest
Senior Congress leaders from Rajasthan descended upon Barmer district on Wednesday. They came to lend their support to former minister Hemaram Choudhary. Choudhary has been staging a dharna at Dhorimana since January 4. His protest targets the redrawing of district boundaries for Barmer and Balotra.
High-Profile Rally in Dhorimana
A significant rally took place in Dhorimana. The event saw participation from top Congress figures. State president Govind Singh Dotasra addressed the crowd. Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot was present. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully also attended. Barmer MP Ummeda Ram Beniwal and Baytoo MLA Harish Chaudhary joined them.
The leaders launched sharp attacks against the state's BJP government. They accused it of acting in a dictatorial fashion. The party alleged the government was indulging in what they called "hooliganism." This was happening, they claimed, under the guise of delimitation and the Survey of India Revised (SIR) process.
Allegations of Electoral Manipulation
Govind Singh Dotasra made a serious allegation. He stated that Congress voters were being systematically removed from electoral rolls. He pointed to the SIR process as the mechanism for this removal.
Dotasra went further with a specific claim. He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave instructions during a recent Jaipur visit. Shah allegedly told state BJP leaders to file objections in every assembly constituency. The goal, according to Dotasra, was to delete the names of 10,000 to 15,000 Congress supporters from voter lists.
Criticism of Government Policies
Tikaram Jully used strong language to criticize the administration. He said the state government had developed a "new disease." Jully remarked that only the public possessed the cure for this ailment. He argued the government took on the wrong opponent by targeting Hemaram Chaudhary during its district reorganization.
Jully also raised issues with welfare schemes. He claimed monthly pensions and Palanhar pensions were not reaching beneficiaries under the Bhajan Lal government. Furthermore, he alleged the government was allocating land in Barmer and Jaisalmer to its industrialist allies.
Sachin Pilot's Firm Stance
Sachin Pilot delivered a forceful speech. He declared the Congress party would raise the boundary change issue vigorously in the state Assembly. Pilot expressed confidence about the party's future. He claimed Congress would return to power in Rajasthan within 35 months.
Pilot emphasized the uniqueness of the situation. He said no other place in the state had seen district boundaries altered in this manner. He also took a moment to praise Hemaram Chaudhary. Pilot commended Choudhary's lengthy and unblemished political career.
Choudhary's Resolve and Post-Rally Developments
Hemaram Choudhary addressed the gathering himself. He criticized the government's decision-making process. Choudhary said decisions were being pushed through using backdated procedures. He accused authorities of misleading the public.
After the speeches concluded, a notable moment occurred. Dotasra, Pilot, and other senior leaders approached Choudhary. They requested him to end his dharna. Choudhary responded by stating the protest was driven by public sentiment. He said he would make a decision after consulting with the people.
The day's events did not end peacefully. Later, Congress workers proceeded to the SDM office. Their aim was to submit a memorandum. During this attempt, a scuffle broke out between the workers and police personnel.
