All front-ranking Congress leaders from Madhya Pradesh on Sunday addressed a huge Congress rally here and gave a call for overthrowing the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led state BJP government in the coming Assembly election.
Addressing the rally, Union minister Kamal Nath said “there is a wave for change and the Congress flag will fly high in the Assembly after the November election”. The coming election will decide the future of Madhya Pradesh, he said, adding that we would end up weakening the nation if we allow forces to disturb the atmosphere of communal amity.” Mr Nath issued a firm warning to government officials asking them not to allow the state BJP government to politicise the government machinery. He particularly asked those in the police to respect their uniform. He mocked at state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s “Jan Ashirwad Yatra” and said is it to seek people’s blessings for forcing farmers to commit suicide and for spreading corruption and unemployment. Speaking on corruption, Mr Nath said no work gets done in government offices in this state without money. The investors have lost faith in this state and the number of industries that have been forced to shut down over the last few years is more than the number of new industries that have come up in MP, he pointed out.
Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said in his speech that the voters will have to give a befitting reply to any party or leader who tries to play with the spirit of secularism and inclusive character of this nation. He pulled up the state BJP government for not meeting the promise of giving round-the-clock electricity to the villagers under the “Atal Jyoti Yojna.” He further said that the results now visible on the electricity front in Madhya Pradesh are the result of the UPA government’s Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna.
On the widespread malaise of corruption, Mr Scindia said that the state BJP government has replaced the inspector raj with mafia raj. He also asserted that MP is ready for change. The youth, women, senior citizens, farmers, dalits, tribals and backwards — all are aspiring for change and it is for the Congress party to go for elections by producing a blue-print to meet this goal.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said that the BJP has always been fascist and acquired power by spreading fear. For them power is not to serve the people but to serve their own business interests, he asserted.
Former state Congress chiefand ex-Union minister Suresh Pachouri dubbed state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as a leader who does not believe in fulfilling his promises.