The BJP Sunday accused the Congress-led government in Madhya Pradesh of making the state an "asylum of criminals" and said the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was getting active again.
"Within two months of Congress rule, Madhya Pradesh has become an asylum of criminals. Murders, kidnapping of children, chain-snatching are taking place and no action is being taken. SIMI has again entered the state. Naxal activities have started," he claimed.
In an apparent reference to the Congress' election symbol, he told reporters here that the party's "hand" was with criminals.
When asked that whether he had any specific information on the revival of SIMI activities in the state, Rao said this was being seen in other states like Karnataka and Kerala where the Congress was "sympathising" with organisations like the PFI and SIMI.
He later said he was speaking on SIMI activities in Madhya Pradesh on the basis of "information".
Hitting out at the Kamal Nath government, Rao said the state government was thwarting development works and cited the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
"The state government has been hampering the implementation of the Prime Minister Awas Yojana. It has not been giving its share for the continuation of this scheme. The Congress government is also conspiring to weaken the Centre's Ayushman Bharat (Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya) Yojana," he alleged.
Speaking on the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed, Rao claimed that terrorism had been effectively controlled in the country since 2014.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already made it clear that those who targeted our soldiers will not be spared," he said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)