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Congress hits out at BJP Govt. in M.P.

`Large-scale corruption, shortage of fertilisers and power crisis in the State'

Indore: The Congress in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday alleged large-scale corruption during the three-year rein of the BJP Government and hit out at the administration over shortage of fertilisers and power crisis in the State.

"Congress has given enough time to the BJP Government to prove itself in last three years, but instead it has given three Chief Ministers and various scams," senior party leader and former Minister Ajay Singh said here.

Addressing a large turnout of farmers and Congressmen for a dharna against the power crisis and shortage of fertilisers, he said: "rampant corruption was taking place under the BJP regime and the government had failed to address issues of public concern, fuelling resentment among the people.''

Alleged corruption during the Simhast (Kumbh) fair in Ujjain and pension scam in Indore are the examples of BJP's promise of providing a clean government, Singh, son of Union Minister Arjun Singh, observed.

He said saffron forces were running the Shivaj Singh Chouhan government and cited the example of alleged Bajrang Dal workers assaulting a senior policeman during a visit of senior BJP leader L K Advani in Bhopal late last year.

Addressing the meet, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kantilal Bhuria dismissed the BJP's allegation that the Centre had not allocated adequate quantity of urea to the State. He said it is the M.P. Government which had failed to take its quota of fertilisers.

Senior Congress leaders, including Pankaj Sanghvi, State Women's Congress President Shobha Ojha, MLAs Ashwin Joshi and Antarsingh Darbar were also present. . The leaders of main Opposition party in the State alleged that the condition of roads had deteriorated under the present government.

After the dharna, Congressmen led by Mr. Singh and Mr. Bhuria submitted a memorandum to the Divisional Commissioner addressed to Governor Balram Jakhar over the issue of power crisis and shortage of fertilisers.

Later, talking to reporters Mr. Singh denied that during the recent Tikamgarh meeting of the Congress, former CM Digvijay Singh had described him as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the State, where Assembly polls are due next year.

Evading a direct reply, Mr. Singh said at present the important issue was to strengthen the party and the question of leadership will be decided by the senior Congress leaders. On having a tribal Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Bhuria, who was also present during the media interaction, said normally the elected legislators decide on the leader of the party and this issue can be discussed and settled later. -- PTI

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