BJP Govt has weakened Coop movement in Rajasthan : Mirdha

Jaipur, Nov 3 (UNI) Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Ram Niwas Mirdha has alleged that the Vasundhara Raje Government in Rajasthan had weakened the democratic character of the Cooperative movement with undue amendments in the cooperative law.

The amendments had prevented the release of Rs 500-crore central assistance to the state, Mr Mirdha said addressing a press conference at the PCC headquarters here today.

The previous Ashok Gehlot Government in the state had done commendable work in the cooperative sector and made a progressive cooperative act strengthening people oriented democratic character of cooperative bodies, he added.

However, the present BJP Government in the state had undone the whole process and killed the very spirit of the law paving way for undue bureaucratic control over cooperative bodies.

Mr Mirdha, who is known for his pioneer work in the cooperative sector in the country, said this cost dearly to the cooperative bodies in the state.

Acting on the Baidhyanath Committee's recommendations, the UPA Government had implemented a scheme for the revival of cooperative bodies in the country and allocated Rs 500 crore for Rajasthan under the scheme, the Congress leader said.

However, this extra assistance was to be released on condition of promulgation of a model cooperative act ensuring full democratic character of cooperative bodies.

In want of the act, the Rs 500-crore central grant for Rajasthan was being kept on a hold, Mr Mirdha said.

The NABARD had several times used the state governemnt to take steps to amend the act and avail the grant but the state government had so far failed to do so.

He said this was just one instance of ''mis-governance'' of the Raje Government which had totally been failed to fulfill the aspirations and needs of poor sections of society.

UNI