The main Opposition Congress on Sunday went for a show of strength and started its election campaign for the coming Madhya Pradesh Assembly election by launching a scathing attack on state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a huge rally here, which happens to be the chief minister’s home turf in neighbouring Sehore district.
Union ministers Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Congress general secretary in-charge Madhya Pradesh Mohan Prakash, party general secretary and former chief minister Digvijay Singh, former Union minister Suresh Pachouri, senior party leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi, state Congress president Kantilal Bhuria and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Singh were prominent among those who shared the platform to demonstrate unity and challenge the ruling BJP on issues like illegal mining, poor law and order situation, rising crime against women, SC/ST and weaker sections and corruption.
Addressing the rally, Mr Digvijay Singh said it was a black day for democracy when the no-confidence motion moved by the Congress legislators against the Shivraj Singh government was turned down in the Assembly without any discussion.
Describing Chaudhary Rakesh Singh Chaturvedi of the Congress, who sabotaged the no-confidence motion and simultaneously joined the BJP last week, as a traitor, Mr Digvijay Singh said all Congress legislators and leaders are present at Nasrullaganj to deliver the message that the Congress stands united.
Raising the issue of illegal mining in the chief minister’s home district, Mr Singh said that Mr Chouhan will have to explain what has happened to the notice issued by the local sub-divisional magistrate to recover `490 crores as royalty. He accused the chief minister’s elder brother saying he is the person behind the large-scale illegal mining in the area.
Mr Singh also focused attention on Shiva Construction company, saying it has monopolised the sand mining activity under the state BJP government. When he was the state chief minister, the village panchayats were controlling this activity and collecting royalty, the Congress leader pointed out.
Mr Kamal Nath said that the state BJP government has deceived the youth by promising jobs that the state government has failed to create.
The much-hyped investors’ meets organised by the Shivraj Singh government have also failed to deliver results, he said, adding the farmers are suffering under the present regime.