Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath has questioned the Jan Ashirwad Yatra – an outreach programme of BJP for newly inducted union ministers – in that state when a big part of the state was facing flood horrors and COVID-19 protocols were in place.
Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Virendra Khatik are conducting Jan Ashirwad Yatra in the state currently. On the last day of his three-day ‘yatra’, Scindia participated in a huge rally across Indore on Thursday, while Khatik started his six-day programme under the yatra from Gwalior.
Grand preparations were made in Indore for Scindia’s rally with welcome dais set up at around 500 places in the 18 km rally route. Traffic jams were witnessed across the route as the rally with huge participation of people. The rally is scheduled to take seven hours to complete the route but could cover only two km in 2.5hours.
Meanwhile, in a series of tweets, Nath said that unemployed youth in the state get cane charged and face criminal cases when they demand employment, candidates selected as teachers are reminded of COVID-19 guidelines and cases registered against them for seeking appointment letters.
Similarly, restrictions are placed on religious activities (under COVID-19 protocol), but the Jan Ashirwad Yatra of BJP continues in many parts of the state in a grand manner in total violation of rules and guidelines.
“The rallies full of grand welcomes, welcome dais and arches, hoardings, posters and other grand paraphernalia is being taken out at a time when a big portion of the state is facing flood horrors,” Nath said.
Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja said that a case should be registered against Scindia as the traffic jam caused huge inconvenience to the people and even ambulances got stuck in the traffic.
Scindia continues to target Congress
Scindia continued to target Congress on the last day of Jan Ashirwad Yatra. Addressing a press conference at Indore before starting his rally, the union minister said that while only 75 airports were established in 70 years (of Congress rule), the current dispensation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had managed to set up 61 new airports in mere 7 years.
He announced that 24 more flights (routes) will become operational in the state by September 1, taking the total number of new flights in the past 45 days (since he took over the civil aviation ministry) to 66 in Madhya Pradesh. He also said that expansion work worth crores is being done at Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Khajuraho airports.
Scindia blamed Congress policies for price rise too, saying that the party kept the country pawned to the international community and never allowed it to become fuel self-sufficient. The current price rise was due to a 300 per cent hike in crude oil prices in the international market and the COVID-19 induced income shrinkage, which was also a global phenomenon. He added that efforts are on to make the country self-sufficient in the fuel sector.
The union minister also lauded chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan saying that he (CM) continues his hard work for the state not even caring for his health and helped the people in the state with all might during the COVID-19 period and the recent floods. He reiterated that the 2023 Assembly polls will be held under Chouhan’s leadership. He also said that he had no political ambitions other than serving the people.
On a question, Scindia said, 'Maharaj' (as he is referred to) is my past, I am Jyotiraditya Scindia now and happy and honoured being called Bhai Sahab (as leaders call each other in BJP'.
Rs 23.19 cr relief for flood-hit
Meanwhile, in a separate programme held in Sheopur, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan transferred an initial relief amount of Rs 23.19 crores to the people affected by recent floods in the Gwalior-Chambal region and Vidisha district. Union minister Narendra Tomar was also present with the CM during the programme conducted through video conferencing. Both leaders interacted with the affected people too.
