Water cannons, scuffle mark Congress protest over Jaipur civic failures

On Monday, water cannons were deployed by police to disperse Congress workers participating in a protest against the Jaipur Municipal Corporation. The demonstration, part of the Congress's 'Hisaab Mango Rally', saw protesters marching towards the municipal corporation headquarters to voice their grievances over alleged governance failures.

These shortcomings included poor infrastructure, corruption, and coercive tax collection practices. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently holds control over the Jaipur Municipal Corporation.

Leaders of the opposition, including State Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, and former minister Pratap Singh Khachariwala, spearheaded the protests. Dotasra accused the BJP of neglecting Jaipur's infrastructure, stating that roads remained unconstructed even in the chief minister's own Assembly constituency (Sanganer in Jaipur).

He further highlighted the worsening situation post-rain, pointing out waterlogging and drainage issues as evidence of the dire state of civic infrastructure in the city. Dotasra warned that Congress would escalate its protests and assured that "police barricades won't stop them".

Tikaram Jully emphasized the rally was not merely a demonstration but a reflection of "public anger against the BJP government's failures and unfulfilled promises." He lamented that Jaipur, renowned worldwide for its unique heritage, culture, and architecture, had been reduced to a state of disappointment due to the incumbent BJP government's inaction. The protest disrupted traffic on Tonk Road and Ajmer Road, leading authorities to divert vehicles on several routes.

The Congress party has vowed to continue its agitation should the grievances raised by the party concerning civic issues not be addressed.