On the last day of campaigning for the second phase of Assembly polls scheduled on Tuesday, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh came down heavily on the ruling BJP Goverment in Chhattisgarh while saying that there is some ‘unwritten pact’ between the outfits of RSS and Naxals in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
He, however, denied of having any proof in this connection while addressing a Press conference here at Congress State party headquarters on Sunday.
Referring to the insurgency-hit Bastar region, he remarked: “How is it possible that an area of 6,000 sq kms has been declared liberated zoneIJ We cannot hoist the Indian flag in this area. I sometimes feel that there is some unwritten pact between various outfits of RSS and Naxals in Bastar.” He, however, denied of having any proof in this connection. Ramesh reiterated that Jeeram Ghati was a ‘political carnage.’
Rapping the healthcare services in Chhattisgarh, he commented: “I was shocked to see that in some areas of Chhattisgarh, some foreign institutions are providing health services. A huge amount of money had been spent on the health sector. Ambulances have been purchased but some selected contractors having connection with the ruling party have been awarded the contract for their maintenance,” Ramesh claimed and added that condition of Ashram schools in State is also known to all.
Over award given to Kanker district for good work. The Union Minister said the prize was given to the Kanker district administration not the BJP Government. To the demand of ruling BJP for declaring the Congress party’s chief ministerial candidate, he said that it was more important that which party would come to power and not who would become Chief Minister.
The Union Minister stressed that in past 10 years, the Union Government had never discriminated with Chhattisgarh Government. “About 4,000 kms of road development has been sanctioned for rural areas, Rs 2,000 crore were given under MNREGA and Rs 2,300 crore was provided as food subsidy.
Ramesh further said that several CAG reports have exposed corruption in the State. The ‘lok Aayog’ is also not strong in State otherwise several Ministers would be behind bars. Now the people want that the BJP Government should quit, he said.