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Kamal Nath attacks MP govt on crimes against women, liquor policy, power bills

CM Chouhan says no decision yet on increasing number of liquor shops

shivraj-singh-kamal-nath Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and former CM Kamal Nath

Former chief minister and Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kamal Nath, on Wednesday, launched an attack on the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in the state on the issues of rising cases of crimes against women, decision to open more liquor shops and excluding lakhs of consumers from subsidised power supply scheme.

Nath’s attack comes after a series of brutal crimes against women, including rape, murder and other violent crimes, were recently reported in the state.

In a series of tweets, Kamal Nath said cases of crimes against sisters and daughters are constantly being reported in the state. The women want security on priority, but they are being misled sometimes in the name of ‘kanya pujan’ (worshipping of minor girls) and sometimes on the age of marriage.

He added that heinous incidents in Sidhi, Khandwa and now in Betul and Indore are putting the state to shame. “Those who would make long speeches on safety of sisters and daughters and stage sit-ins while in opposition are now totally silent,” Nath said.

“When would the government wake up and take concrete steps to provide security to women? Responsibility of competent authorities should be fixed in cases of brutality against women as has been decided for spurious liquor sale,” Nath added.

Further, attacking the government on the discussion regarding increase in the number of liquor shops in rural areas, Nath said it is very shameful that the BJP that talked of complete ban on liquor before elections is now readying to push the state in the mire of liquor. “Steps are being taken to increase the number of liquor shops on the pretext of controlling spurious liquor sale. I have been saying that even if people in MP are not able to get subsidised food grains, the government makes sure that they get liquor. During COVID-19 pandemic, there was a ban on religious gatherings, social events, and marriages, but liquor shops remained open till late in night,” Nath said.

He claimed that the Shivraj Singh government is a liquor-loving government and keeps taking decisions to expand liquor business. “If the government increases the number of liquor shops, the Congress will not sit quietly, but will oppose the anti-people decision from streets to the assembly.”

As for the decision to exclude income tax paying consumers from the subsidised power scheme, Kamal Nath said the Congress government started the Indira Griha Jyoti scheme to benefit the common people who used up to 150 units of power and 100 units were provided for mere Rs 100. “Now, the Shivraj Singh government has decided to exclude the middle class from this scheme. This is an anti-people decision and the middle class that is struggling economically due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be hugely impacted. The government should reconsider the decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, talking to the media, CM Chouhan said there is no decision yet on increasing liquor shops. “During ten years of my rule, not a single new liquor shop opened, rather we closed down shops. Now suggestions are coming in a different context but there is no decision yet. People are commenting just on presumptions,” the CM said.

Home Minister Narottam Mishra attacked the Congress, accusing it of having a double standards. Mishra said the Congress government had decided to open liquor shops every five km, start online sale of liquor and make liquor buying easy for women. “I can prove it if the Congress denies. The suggestion to open more liquor shops in rural areas is viable because the number of shops vis a vis the population is far lesser than neighbouring states and this increases the possibility of illegal liquor transport,” the home minister said while talking to the media.

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