Bhopal: The Opposition BJP on Saturday released an ‘aarop patra’ or charge sheet against the Kamal Nath-led government in Madhya Pradesh, targeting it over its failure to deliver on the promises it had made to the people. The charge sheet, which is a 12-page booklet, lists the “unfulfilled promises” of the Congress, which formed the government in the state in December last year. The saffron party alleged that among other things, the Congress duped farmers in name of loan waiver. It also said that the ruling party has disappointed people of the state as its assurances have remained “only on paper”, as against its claim of implementing 83 promises.
However, the ruling party hit back at BJP saying the allegations against it were “baseless”. The booklet was released at the BJP’s state party office by former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, party’s national vice presidents Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Prabhat Jha, among others. Talking to reporters on the occasion, Chouhan said, “The farm loan waiver scheme of the Congress, on the basis of which it came to power, has been a complete failure. Not single farmer in the state has received a loan waiver certificate.”
“Although the Congress government had issued an order of loan waiver, the debts of not a single farmer have been written off. “Farmers across the state are setting on fire the copies of false certificates, while Congress leaders, including party chief Rahul Gandhi and CM Kamal Nath, claim that the government has waived loan of up to Rs 2 lakh as promised, which is actually false,” Chouhan alleged.
POWER CUTS
Referring to the power outages in the state, he said, “It reminds us of the ‘Bantadhar Yug’ (ruined state) when electricity cuts had become routine.” Chouhan’s ‘Bantadhar Yug’ remark indirectly referred to former MP chief minister Digvijaya Singh’s rule. He said, power had tripped even when Nath had gone to cast his vote in his constituency. “It shows the kind of situation in the state and the government is blaming BJP for it instead of tackling the issue. They are so afraid of power cuts that now the CM has provided a mobile generator to (Digvijaya) Singh for his campaign to deal with power cuts,” Chouhan added. Singh is Congress candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, polling for which will take place on May 12.
On the Congress’s promise of providing Rs 4,000 as unemployment allowance to youths in the state, the BJP national vice president claimed that nobody has got the assistance so far. He also alleged that a number of welfare schemes launched by erstwhile BJP government led by him, were closed due to paucity of funds, including the scheme under which Rs 5,000 used to be given for performing last rites of poor people.
I-T raids
“The recent I-T raids on persons close to Nath in which Rs 281 crore worth illegal assets were unearthed shows the kind of government in the state and reflects the nature of the Congress,” he alleged. Chouhan said that after the Congress came to power, the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated. “The recent rape and murder of a minor girl and shooting down of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in his residence in Bhopal are just some examples of it,” he said. Responding to his charges, state Congress media cell chairperson Shobha Oza said, “BJP’s charges are baseless. BJP and Chouhan ruled the state for nearly 15 years, during which over 21,000 farmers committed suicide and 25,000 to 30,000 incidents of rape and gang rape occurred. Then why did Chouhan remain a mute spectator all these years?” PTI