BARMER, June 19 -- Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday said that both the BJP led government at Centre and in Rajasthan are dedicated to the welfare of the underprivileged people and that the government is working on making Rajasthan a Below Poverty Line (BPL) free state. Addressing a public event in Jalore district on Wednesday, Sharma said, "Rs.300 crore has been allocated for the first phase of the campaign aiming to eliminate BPL status from 5,000 villages. In the next phase, another 10,000 villages will be covered." Sharma said that after coming to power, his government identified three key priority areas: water, electricity, and employment and these, he said, are essential for ensuring overall development and improving the quality of life of the people. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in empowering four key sections of society-youth, women, farmers, and workers, and that both the BJP-led government at Centre and in the state are working for overall development of these sections. Lashing out at the Congress, Sharma said that since 1952, whenever the party came to power, it repeatedly raised the slogan of eradicating poverty but failed to deliver it on ground. "The Congress has no concern for the poor or poverty alleviation. It was PM Modi who, after assuming office in 2014, has been tirelessly working for the welfare of the poor," Sharma said. He also accused the Congress of engaging in the politics of lies, appeasement, and false promises. "Congress never prioritized actual welfare work," Sharma said. He added, "We are not the ones claiming to turn potatoes into gold. But I firmly believe that if farmers get sufficient water, they will turn their land into gold. That's why we are making every possible effort to resolve the water crisis." Sharma also announced that the government is planning an allocation of Rs.4,000 crore for the expansion of the Indira Gandhi Canal to ensure smooth water supply in western Rajasthan, covering Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur districts. He also said that planning is underway to supply water from the Mahi Dam to Jalore and Sanchore. Highlighting his government's achievements, Sharma said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), which will benefit the water-scarce regions of eastern Rajasthan. Speaking on the government's commitment to farmers, Sharma said, "The PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi is directly reaching farmers' accounts. Rajasthan currently offers the highest Minimum Support Price (MSP) on wheat. we are also providing loans up to Rs.5 lakh through the Gopalan Credit Card scheme. The welfare of farmers is our government's top priority." Ahead of CM Bhajan Lal Sharma's scheduled public meeting in Jalore district, tensions flared as three elderly men jumped into the Narmada canal in protest demanding the reinstatement of district status for Sanchore. Members of the Zila Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, led by former minister Sukhram Bishnoi, tried to reach the CM's venue to submit a memorandum. As they approached the site, they were stopped by Special Task Force personnel. Enraged by the obstruction, three elderly protesters-Surjanram Bishnoi, Bhup Singh Rathore and Chhaganlal Meghwal-leapt into the canal waters. SDRF teams present at the spot jumped in to rescue them. "They initially refused to come out but after 10 minutes of persuasion, they were brought out of the water," officials said....