Reiterating his early statements that he was ready for an open debate with Chouhan on who had done more for Madhya Pradesh as Chief Minister, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Sunday rejected Chief Minister Chouhan’s charge that he had taken the State to the brink of disaster when he was in office.
“I am aware that Chouhan is making this claim whenever he goes on his ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ these days but I also know that there is no truth in this,” the Congress leader said. Chouhan could choose the time and place for the debate, he added. According to Singh, Madhya Pradesh was in a bad shape when he became Chief Minister in 1993 and the State developed a lot during his tenure. He said in the debate, which he wanted with Chouhan, he was willing to discuss all areas which affect any State. “Had I taken the State to the brink of disaster, I would not have thrown this challenge to Chouhan,” he said.
Singh also said that in case Chouhan had really done well for Madhya Pradesh, he should accept his challenge and agree to the debate. “I challenge Chouhan for an open debate on development of the state as well as on the problems faced by the people of the State,” Singh said. Digvijay, who was Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister for 10 years till 2003, said his party (Congress) always stood with the poor, Dalits, Tribals and the oppressed class, “while the BJP was helping those who are rich”. He said if Congress was voted back to power in the State after the next Assembly polls, it would waive agriculture loan up to `51,000.
“We will offer equal pay for equal work for shikshakarmis (temporary and contract school teachers). Electricity bills of those whose power connections were snapped during the BJP rule due to various reasons, would also be waived,” he said.