Criticising the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday said that her party does not make hollow promises like the BJP, but delivers on its word.
“BJP leaders are day-dreaming about power.... They are so engrossed in their greed for power that they are pulling each other down. If they think they can win hearts of the people by using flowery language, they are mistaken. India is not just any other country,” the Congress chief said at an election rally in Khargone.
Taking on the BJP and the State Government, she said, “The BJP Government failed to fulfill the promises it made to public. However, the Congress would lay a new foundation for the State’s development on coming to power.” She said the Centre had provided adequate funds to the State Government under various schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. “However, the money was wasted in corruption. Instead of labourers, work was accomplished through machines and contractors.” she said.
The Congress president said corruption had increased many-fold during the BJP rule. Thirteen ministers have been booked by the lokayukta but the State Government is not taking action against anyone, she said. Sonia further said the condition of villages and towns was pathetic. “Farmers are forced to purchase seeds and fertilisers from shops owned by BJP leaders,” she alleged.
She alleged that the BJP Government has done nothing for the development of the State while being in power. “I am sad looking at the ten years of mis-governance by the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. There were only talks of development in Madhya Pradesh, but many children died of malnutrition. Crimes against women have increased, and the farmers are committing suicide.”
“We brought Food Security, mid day meal, health schemes. We gave every aid possible for these schemes to be implemented here. What happened to the money given by the Centre for developmentIJ You should ask this question to the BJP Government,” she told the audience.