CM gives Rs 7-cr grants to Fatehabad gaushalas

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini visited Fatehabad on Saturday and took part in a programme held at the gaushala in Badopal — the largest village in the Fatehabad Assembly constituency.

During the event, the CM distributed grant cheques worth Rs 7.02 crore to the management committees of 65 gaushalas in the district.

He announced that a wildlife treatment centre, under construction in Badopal, would be named after Bishnoi saint Rajendra Nand Maharaj.

Former MLA Dura Ram raised six demands in front of the CM, including a college for girls and a sports stadium.

He emotionally appealed to the CM, saying: “Please fulfil these two demands, CM ‘sahib’, or else my bread and butter will stop, this is my in-laws’ village.” The CM responded by saying that the feasibility of all demands would be assessed, and those found suitable would be approved.

However, despite this being Saini’s first public visit to the area after the Assembly elections, there was no major announcement for Fatehabad, which disappointed many locals. BJP district president Praveen Joura submitted 17 demands for the region, and claimed credit for proposing the wildlife centre’s name, which the CM approved.

In his speech, Saini said the government was committed to cow protection.

He said, before 2014, the Gau Seva Aayog had a budget of only Rs 2 crore, which had now been increased to Rs 595 crore. So far, 303 gaushalas had received solar plants, and work was underway for the rest, he added, announcing that e-rickshaws would soon be provided to gaushalas for daily operations.

Saini announced Rs 21 lakh for development works in Badopal.

Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, PWD Minister Ranbir Singh Gangwa, and Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala also pledged Rs 11 lakh each for the Badopal gaushala.

Interestingly, several senior leaders such as Ranbir Singh Gangwa, Subhash Barala, Devender Singh Babli, and Sunita Duggal were present at the event, but did not address the gathering. Only Praveen Joura, Dura Ram, and minister Shyam Singh Rana delivered remarks, before the CM's address.