The Congress party will be taking on the State government over a host of issues ranging from corruption, electricity crisis and mismanagement of central government funds in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha session starting on Monday, Jamuna Devi, the leader of opposition in the State Assembly, said here.
“The State is reeling under crises of corruption, mismanagement of central funds and crimes against women of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and we will demand answers from the BJP government over these issues,” she said.
The Congress has accused the Shivraj Singh Chauhan led BJP government of encouraging a “triangle of corruption” in the State involving politicians, bureaucrats and contractors.
“The Chief Minister himself is being probed by the Lokayukta in three cases, with eight other ministers of his cabinet being probed for 14 cases in all. With the CM himself leading the parade, how does the State government plan to tackle corruption?” asked the leader of opposition.
Ms. Jamuna Devi also alleged huge irregularities in power deals made by the state government during the last year. She also alleged corruption on the part of bureaucrats and politicians in the allotment of mining leases for Bauxite and Manganese.
“Rs.3000 crore worth of electricity, out of the total purchase of Rs.22,000 crore, was bought from private parties. Out of this, Rs.750 crore worth of electricity was purchased without even floating tenders. And even after this, the power crisis in the state continues,” she said.
She said that the state’s farmers are getting barely three hours of electricity a day, as against the 12 hours promised by the Chief Minister. Power cut for eight hours in small towns and for four hours in big cities is a regular occurrence, according to the Congress leader.
The Congress also pointed out faulty implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. It alleged that out of 3.8 lakh claims approved and forwarded by gram sabhas and janpad (intermediate) panchayats, over 2 lakh were rejected at the district level.
She also blamed the state government of being apathetic to increase in crimes against women, especially those belonging to the SC and ST.
“Crimes against women of the SC and ST categories are on the rise in the state. Incidents of gang rape and burning alive of these women have come to the light. It is shameful for a government that talks about women and child development being its priority areas,” said Jamuna Devi.
