Opposition Congress is all set to launch seven simultaneous ‘Jan Aakrosh’ rallies ‘to give voice to people’s anger against the BJP government’. The rallies will commence on September 19 – the Ganesh Chaturthi day – and cover a total of 11,400 km across all 230 assembly constituencies in a fortnight.
The launch of the rallies was announced by Congress general secretary in-charge for Madhya Pradesh Randeep Surjewala on Saturday at a press conference in the presence of state Congress chief Kamal Nath and other senior leaders who would lead the seven rallies.
Surjewala said that people are extremely angry at the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government that has been in power for 18.5 years. The main reasons for this anger are the decreased income and fatal firing on farmers, Vyapam and Patwari recruitment scams, cancellation of 3.22 housing rights allotments, corruption in Ayushman health scheme and distribution of school uniforms and food. The incident in which a BJP leader insulted tribals by urinating on them has also caused public outrage, the Congress leader added.
Surjewala further said that the public anger surged also because the government did not even spare Lord Mahakal (indicating corruption in the Mahakal Lok project), irregularities in the women’s marriage scheme and deliberate fire in Satpura Bhawan (state administrative building) to burn files to hide the corruption.
Also, more than 58,000 incidents of rapes and 67,000 instances of abduction were reported during the 18 years of BJP rule, turning Madhya Pradesh into the state with highest crime against children, tribal and Dalits, Surjewala said.
He said that people are full of enthusiasm for Congress and Kamal Nath as during his government’s short tenure (2018-20), loans of 27 lakh farmers were waived, power bills of 87 per cent of consumers were brought below Rs 100 per month and strong action was initiated against mafia and adulterators.
Surjewala also referred to the 11 guarantees of the Congress this time including Rs 1500 monthly cash assistance to women, domestic gas cylinders for Rs 500, 100 units of free power and 200 units at half rate, reinstatement of the old pension scheme and others. He also said that the BJP government in the state has become an artificial, contaminated and merely decorative government that is not able to fulfil the aspirations of any sections of people.
Kamal Nath reiterated that the upcoming assembly polls were about safeguarding the future of Madhya Pradesh rather than selecting any party or ideology. He expressed confidence that the people of Madhya Pradesh will take the right steps in that direction.
The Congress rallies come even as the five simultaneous ‘Jan Ashirwad’ Yatras of the ruling BJP are nearing their end. Senior leaders from the state and from across the country are participating in these 'yatras' that will conclude in a formal event on September 25 in the likely presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
CM Chouhan has already taken a swipe at the proposed Jan Aakrosh Yatra of Congress saying that those who are getting the blessings of the people (BJP) are taking out Jan Ashirwad Yatra, while those who are facing anger are taking out a Jan Aakrosh Yatra.
‘Jan Aakrosh’ rallies: The Yatra routes
- Leader of opposition Govind Singh will lead the rally on route 1 in the Gwalior-Chambal region covering 1600 km in 30 constituencies.
- Former state Congress president Arun Yadav will lead the yatra on route 2 covering 1700 km in 32 constituencies of Bundelkhand and central Madhya Pradesh regions.
- Former minister and Congress working committee member Kamleshwar Patel will cover 1900 km spanning 30 constituencies of Vindhya and Mahakoshal regions on route 3.
- Former leader of opposition Ajay Singh Rahul will lead the yatra on route 4, covering 1400 km of 31 constituencies also in Vindhya and Mahakoshal regions.
- Former state Congress president Suresh Pachouri will lead the yatra on route 5, covering 1400 km in 22 constituencies of Mahakoshal and Central Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal-Hoshangabad).
- Former union minister and poll campaign committee chief Kantilal Bhuria will lead the rally on route six in 33 constituencies in the tribal belt of Malwa-Nimad region covering 1700 km
- Former minister Jitu Patwari will lead the rally on route 7 covering 1700 kms of 36 constituencies in the Malwa region.
