Gehlot slams govt after FIR against villagers seeking water in Jodhpur

Jaipur: Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot Wednesday accused the state govt of arrogance and insensitivity after an FIR was lodged against people of Dhundhara village in Jodhpur for demanding drinking water from cabinet minister Jogaram Patel.

In a statement on X, Gehlot alleged that residents of Dhundhara village approached cabinet minister Jogaram Patel, a native of the village, seeking arrangements for water supply amid shortages. However, instead of addressing their concerns, the public health engineering department allegedly filed an FIR against the villagers for obstructing govt work.

“Ask for water, go to jail! This is the BJP govt’s new ‘double-engine’ circus in Rajasthan,” Gehlot said, attacking the state govt over the incident.

Gehlot said Patel is the only cabinet minister from Jodhpur district in the present govt and questioned why basic public demands such as drinking water could not be met.

“If the people of Jodhpur cannot place their hopes in him, then who will they turn to? Can he not even fulfil this most basic necessity of the public?” Gehlot asked.

He further alleged that ministers and officials, “intoxicated by power”, lost their moral compass. Referring to an earlier incident, Gehlot claimed that when villagers demanded drinking water from another minister, Joraram Kumawat, their electricity and water connections were disconnected.

Gehlot said the episode reflected what he described as the BJP govt’s growing insensitivity and authoritarian approach. “It appears that the BJP govt has reached the pinnacle of insensitivity and arrogance and is adopting a dictatorial attitude, which is highly condemnable,” he said.