A bill of over Rs 88,000 was presented by a firm that erected temporary meeting and living rooms in Madhya Pradesh capital’s Dussehra Ground during Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s indefinite fast in June called by him for restoration of peace during then ongoing farmers’ agitation.
“A firm presented bill Rs 88,118.75 for erecting meeting and living rooms at the site. likewise, another firm presented bills of Rs 22,324 for electricity and other works,” said Farmers’ Welfare Minister Gaurishankar Chaturbhuj Bisen in his written reply to Arif Aqueel of Congress.
In a written response to a related query by Jitu Patwari of Congress, he said that no record of visitors was maintained during the fast that commenced on June 10 at 1100 hrs and ended at 1500 hrs on the next day. The Municipal Corporation looked after cleanliness and drinking water arrangements.
He said 64 delegations of farmers submitted memorandums during his fast. No fund was spent on advertisement.
Replying to another related query by leader of the Opposition Ajay Singh, Bisen said that no records were maintained about officials present during the fast and thus could not be provided.
In response to a query by Congress’ Govind Singh over whether permission was sought from the Governor for the fast, Bisen said that no information was available.
He said that Chouhan sat on fast for restoration of peace and called it off at the instance of farmers’ organisations and people’s representatives.