Jaipur, Aug. 3 -- Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday accused the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led government of discontinuing or delaying several welfare schemes launched during the previous Congress government, alleging that pending payments under key programmes have caused hardship to beneficiaries, pensioners and contractors. Addressing a press conference in Jodhpur, Gehlot claimed that payments to empanelled hospitals under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) have been delayed, affecting treatment for pensioners. "Patients are suffering due to non-payment to affiliated hospitals under the RGHS. Pensioners' treatment has been halted. I launched this scheme inspired by the Centre's CGHS. Similarly, payments under the Chiranjeevi scheme have also been stopped. We raised the issue with the government, but received no response," he said. Gehlot further alleged that payments related to General Provident Fund (GPF), Provident Fund (PF) and gratuity for retired employees are pending, forcing beneficiaries to repeatedly visit government offices. Responding to chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's repeated use of the term "magician" to target him politically, Gehlot said the chief minister was using the phrase without understanding its background. "The Chief Minister does not even know the background of this art. India is the origin of this art. Someone handling his public relations asked him to use the phrase, and he repeated it," Gehlot said. During the press conference, Gehlot also showed bottles containing allegedly contaminated drinking water in Jodhpur. Holding up the bottles, Gehlot criticised the government over the city's water supply. "No one should even drink such water," he said, alleging that several areas in the city receive drinking water only once every nine to ten days. Gehlot also responded to the ongoing political controversy with Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara. "The BJP is trying to distort my statements and create divisions within the Congress party. They are adept at creating false perceptions," he said. Referring to a teachers' conference held at Jaipur's Birla Auditorium in 2021, Gehlot said he had merely asked teachers whether corruption existed in transfer postings....