Congress to intensify drive against govt

Raipur, August 28, 2012

Congress will intensify its campaign against state government after its national president Sonia Gandhi asked the partymen to hit hard at BJP both at Centre and in states.

The PCC spokesperson Mahendra Chhabda informed that the party had already launched offensive against the ruling party under its anti-government movement and gheraoing district Collectors one-by-one. The collectorate-gherao programme would conclude at Raipur on October 1.

He informed that the party gheraoed Kawardha collectorate on Tuesday in presence of state unit chief Nandkumar Patel, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey, senior party leader Vidya Charan Shukla, MLA Mohammad Akbar, etc.

He said the people had deep resentment against Chief Minister Raman Singh and his government in wake of several scams and irregularities surfacing up back-to-back.

“The issues like increased power tariff, black marketing of fertilisers and seeds, government’s recommendations on coal blocks allocation, etc have exposed the BJP government’s actual face. We will prominently raise these issues in our upcoming collectorate-gherao programmes,” he said.

The party will gherao Raigarh and Rajnandgaon collectorates on August 30 and 31 respectively while in September it aims to gherao 17 districts collectors.

He informed that the part is also organising Vidhan Sabha-level workers’ training camp in all the 51 Assembly constituencies where it lost to BJP. The party’s recently held training camps in Kanker and Farasgaon (Keshkal) were attended by state unit incharge BK Hariprasada.

Now, the Congress will organise its next training camp in Balodabazar on September 4.  The VS-level training camps will conclude in December 2012. 

Congress: Wrong power bills can take life

Raipur, August 28, 2012

Launching scathing attack on government over reports of wrong power bills being served to consumers, Congress has asked it to take stern action against guilty staffers involved in preparing such bills.

“The consumers are already upset with hiked power tariff and now Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) is imposing inordinate bills on them. We fear the wrong bills can take more lives as has happened with Sanju Sen who died after he failed to convince the power company officials that the bill of Rs 34700 served on his name was not genuine,” said Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla.

He alleged that the power companies were threatening consumers of disconnecting their power lines if they would not pay their bills.

“It is unfortunate that corruption prevails from top to bottom in the scam-hub Energy department, but the government is sparing the scammers and compensating the revenue loss by imposing hiked power tariff and inordinate bills on consumers,” he charged.

NSUI protests fee hike in engineering colleges

Raipur, August 28, 2012

The NSUI activists have strongly objected over fee hike in engineering colleges by Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC) and demanded quick rollback in the decision. In this connection, they submitted a memorandum to deputy directory of Directorate Technical Education GP Naik on Tuesday.

“We are demanding rollback because FRC has made fee hike effective from previous academic session, i.e. 2011-12. The hike is certainly is unexpected for students and would deeply dent their pockets,” said NSUI worker Naushad Khan.

“We have requested Naik to make the fee hike effective from current academic session to give financial respite to the students,” he said informing that Naik assured the NSUI activists of considering their suggestion during FRC’s meeting scheduled to be held next week.

On the occasion, Khan was accompanied by Abhinash Dubey, Mohammad Akib, Amit Bhagat, Shantanu Shukla, Sagar Sinha, Virendra Sahu, Palash Tiwari, Shubham Soni, Ajay Sinha, Monesh Agrawal, Jeetu Agrawal, Yogesh Sharma, Pawan Thakur, etc.

Another faction of NSUI members gheraoed Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) and demanded to return revaluation fees to the students who have been declared passed.

“The board has returned revaluation fees to the passed students last year but is refusing to do so this year. The NSUI will keep agitating till the board meets its demands,” said the organisation’s Raipur district president Pradeep Sahu. He was accompanied by Gulzeb Ahmed, Gaurav Sahu, Lokesh Verma, etc.

Congress: CM cannot shirk responsibility on coal blocks

Raipur, August 27, 2012

Congress says that the Chief Minister Raman Singh cannot shirk his responsibility on coal blocks allocation issue by saying that he opposed auction to safeguard interests of state investors.

“The BJP is adopting double standard this issue. The state government’s recommendations on coal block allocation should be disclosed to unearth facts,” said PCC president Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey.

They claimed that the companies recommended by the state government for coal blocka allocation neither had eligibility nor any industrial unit in Chhattisgarh.

They also indicated that the recommendations of Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) too should be disclosed.

Scrutiny of YC voter list begins today

Polls likely to begin from September 20

Raipur, August 27, 2012

The scrutiny of voter list for Youth Congress (YC) polls will begin from Tuesday and conclude on September 6, 2012. The YC election incharge Sachin Nayak and pradesh returning officer (PRO) Harpal Singh categorically said that all the claims and objections regarding membership would be accepted only till September 6. They indicated that the elections are likely to begin from September 20 from booth-level.

The election team is expected to announce the new executive bodies of YC at state, Lok Sabha and Assembly levels by second week of October 2012.

“During scrutiny, the Lok Sabha returning officers (LROs) will tour each of the Assembly areas of their respective assigned constituencies and eliminate shortcomings in the voter list,” the duo said.

“We will also renew the membership of the existing YC members during scrutiny period. For renewal, the members would have to produce the stipulated documents to the LROs, however, they would not be asked to fill the application form again,” they said.

When asked how the scrutiny teams would filter fake applicants who had filled wrong age details, the duo said such cases will be referred to organisation’s Foundation for Advanced Management of Elections (FAME). Notably, the age eligibility criteria to become a YC member is 18-35, but several cases underage or overage had been surfaced in the past.

“The organisation also checks entry of criminals by conducting scrutiny of applicants with criminal record by FAME,” they said adding that the organisation never considers applicants who are chargesheeted or face charges having provision of jail imprisonment of five years or more.

Asked about the preparation of the election team to maintain transparency and prevent candidates from squandering funds to increase their victory chances, the duo said no such practice would be tolerated.

“If evidence against any such candidate would be found correct, he or she would be immediately expelled,” they said pointing that the organisation did not even spare son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Veer Bhadra Singh during when he was found guilty of adopting prohibitive methods to win YC polls.

Govt tempered farmers’ suicidal figures: Cong

Raipur, August 27, 2012

Congress on Monday alleged that the state government had tempered farmers’ suicidal figures as police informed National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) that no farmer killed self in 2011.

“This is ridiculous. About 12 farmers committed suicide in 2011 just 30 kilometer away from the capital city in Abhanpur. The Abhanpur police had sent the report to the police headquarters. Similarly, the Balodabazar police had lodged cases suicide of about 25 farmers. Many more farmers committed suicide in different parts of the state in same year. How come all the figures are suddenly vanished,” asked former PCC president Dhanendra Sahu and chief Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi.

They pointed that 7777 suicidal cases were registered by the police in five years. “The average suicidal rate in Chhattisgarh is 26.5%, double than the country’s rate which is 11.2%. Chhattisgarh’s suicidal rate will be highest if the rates of Pondicherry, Andaman & Nicobar and Sikkim are put aside,” they said.

“When the Congress started raising issue of farmers’ suicide across the state, the government came into action and tempered the figures. For this, the government arm-twisted the police officials threatening them of pressing in naxal belts,” they charged demanding high level probe into the matter.

Sikh community’s website launched

Raipur, August 27, 2012

The new website of Chhattisgarh Sikh community has been was launched at station road-based hotel at 4 pm on August 26. The website will regularly update community’s activities and provide information about upcoming events.

The society’s spokespersons Mahendra Chhabda and Surendra Singh Chhabda informed that the detailed information of community’s office-bearers could also be fetched in the website.

Besides, the website has a matrimonial page for the community’s marriageable boys and girls. The spokespersons duo informed that over 250 applications for registration in Sikh matrimonial were received on the launching date of the website. The matrimonial registration is being done free-of-cost, they added.

After launching programme, oath-taking ceremony of newly appointed office-bearers of society’s youth wing was held. Thereafter, the senior office-bearers felicitated youngsters of the society who have recently become chartered accountant (CA).

On the occasion were present the society’s patron and MLA Kuldeep Singh Juneja, Besides, Jagjeet Singh Khanuja, Ajinder Singh Chawla, Satpal Singh Gandhi, Diler Singh Hora, Gurucharan Singh Hora, Gurubaksh Singh Chhabda, Surendra Singh Khanuja, Mahendra Singh Chawla, Raghubeer Singh Chhabda, Mahendra Singh Saluja, Manmeet Singh Saluja, Manwinder Gandhi, Harjeet Juneja, etc.

Cong to gherao Kawardha collectorate today

Raipur, August 27, 2012

The Congress will gherao Kawardha collectorate under its anti-govt movement to protest hike in power tariff, inordinate power bills, frequent power cuts, black marketing of fertilisers and seeds, etc on Tuesday. On the occasion, PCC president Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey will remain present.

Energy dept becomes corruption hub: Congress

Raipur, August 25, 2012

Congress has alleged that the Energy department had become corruption hub under BJP regime. “The ruling party has given reins of power companies to its dear ones who are actually incapable to handle the responsibility. In fact, all the five power companies have become fodder for retired and contract officials. With anarchy prevailed in the Energy department, the power surplus state is witnessing frequent power cuts,” charged Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla.

“The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB) was divided into five power companies with an objective to smoothen production and transmission of electricity but since then all the companies have become untrammeled,” he said.

He said the common people were getting electricity at higher rates due to corruption in Energy department. “The CAG, in its report during state Assembly’s budget session, had underlined Rs 1700 crore scam in Energy department. The report said that the power transmission had to incur loss of Rs 420 crore in a year as it had to buy electricity from private power producers,” he pointed.

He alleged that the government conspired to benefit the private power producers by electricity from them in last eight years.

He said after disintegration of CSEB the government increased the annual budget of power companies by 80-220%, however, all failed to meet its expectations.

He said the government has hiked domestic and commercial power tariff by hundred percent during its regime.

Citing Rs 7200 crore scam in transformer and electric poll purchase exposed by one of the Congress worker through Right to Information Act, Shukla indicated that the Energy Secretary Aman Singh is said to be linked to it as public interest litigation (PIL) had been filed against him in the High Court.

He demanded explanation from Chief Minister as what prompted the government to do contract appointment on significant post like Energy Secretary.

Migration increased under BJP govt: Congress

Raipur, August 25, 2012

Expressing their grief over death of labourers of Chhattisgarh in Jammu, state Congress president Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey said the government failed in creating job opportunities for people hence migration increased in last eight years.

“Since the BJP government misused Central funds and did not implement schemes like MNREGA effectively, the farmers and labourers are compelled to move to other states in search of job,” they said.

They termed corruption and rapid industrialisation as other major reasons for increasing migration.

“The government is forcible acquiring agricultural lands of farmers at lower rates and hading them to the industrialists. These industrialists, in turn, do not create jobs for farmers. The BJP’s pro-industrialists and anti-farmer policies have resulted in sharp decline in job opportunities in the state,” they said.

They charged that the government produced fake figures of development and hid the actual figures of migrants. “The government does not have any agency which could feel the pulse of migrants. The BJP simply considers farmers and labourers as it vote bank,” they said.

Holding the ruling party responsible for migration of people the duo demanded announcement of Rs five lakh compensation package for each of the families of deceased state labourers in Jammu.

Damaged roads: YC burns PWD Minister’s effigy

Raipur, August 25, 2012

Holding PWD Minister Brijmohan Agrawal responsible for damaged roads of state the members of Youth Congress (YC) gheraoed burnt his effigy at Budhapara-based dharna spot on Saturday.

“The roads damaged due to use of substandard materials. The PWD officials and the contractors had done grafts worth crores in road construction works. Unfortunately, the minister and the department officials are still on hibernation,” said YC’s Raipur North Assembly area general secretary Dilip Singh Chouhan.

“We had recently gheraoed PWD office in this connection and submitted a memorandum to department’s executive engineer DK Pradhan demanding quick repairing of deteriorated roads of the state. However, the department seems unmoved by our demand as even the capital city’s roads wear the same wretched look,” he said.

He warned of locking PWD headquarters and gheraoing the minister it the road conditions remain unchanged in coming days.

The YC members who accompanied Chouhan were Sheikh Shakeel, Bablu Raza, Azhar Rahman, Wasim Quasif, Bakar Abbas, Mukesh Kurre, Pradeep Yadav, Anil Yadav, Kamlesh Garg, Chandrashekhar Tandon, Sushil Jangde, David Kurre, Satish Banjare, Mohan Bigane, Raja Khan, Raju Markandey, Piyush Borkar, etc.

Anti-Jogi faction against Amit’s induction in PCC

Raipur, August 24, 2012

Once again, different factions of Congress are uniting to prevent senior party MLA Ajit Jogi’s son Amit from being inducted in PCC as general secretary. Some anti-Jogi factions even feel that there is no need to inflate the existing set-up of PCC.

Indicating that the AICC has only ten general secretaries while Chhattisgarh PCC has 11, they say there is no need to appoint more number of office-bearers in the organisation as it is functioning very well and is capable to handle the 2013 and 2014 polls efficiently.

Last week, state Congress had recommended for inflation of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) to high command. Then, the party’s state incharge BK Hariprasada on August 23 announced that there would not be leadership change in the party till 2013 polls. He further said he would make changes in the organisation on suggestions of state unit head Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey.

With Jogi’s frequent Delhi visits in past 12 months and olive branch extended by him to his strong opponent Union Minister of State Charandas Mahant, the other factions back in state fear shifting of party equilibrium towards the two heavyweight leaders.

Besides, induction of Amit in PCC would mean increased presence of Jogi family in the organisation which the other factions expect least. Hence, instead of directly opposing Amit’s induction, the Jogi opponents are trying to convey message to their senior leaders in New Delhi that jumbo-sized PCC would be of no use and only be a burden to the party.

According to information, the party is likely to make the general secretary count from 11 to 21 and secretary count from 37 to 45 with induction of fresh faces in the organisation.

BJP govt slides to 12th rank, but misleading public: Cong

Raipur, August 24, 2012

Congress on Friday lashed at BJP government for misleading people by claiming Chhattisgarh as number one state in the country.

“The government is deceiving people but not informing the actual rank of the state. The fact is Chhattisgarh state has slid to 12^th rank at present,” said PCC president Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey.

“The magazine, which had reported that Chhattisgarh was number one state in 2005, has not put the state on 12^th position in its recent edition,” they said.

They ridiculed the ruling party for it latest advertisement published in another magazine which said that Chief Minister Raman Singh is the best CM of the country.

“This is wrong information. The government should tell the truth to the people as how its rank slid from number 1 to 12 in last seven years,” they said.

“Surprisingly, Chhattisgarh is the only state which witnessed such a steep fall in the rankings given by the particular magazine. This happened because of increasing corruption in the state and BJP government’s incapability to improve the situation,” they added.

They demanded from the government to stop misusing public money on false advertisements and brood over the state’s low ranking.

Ramdev, Anna insulted tricolour: Jogi

Raipur, August 24, 2012

Senior Congress legislator Ajit Jogi has alleged that Swami Ramdev and Anna Hazare had insulted tricolour and criminal case should be filed against them. He said both Ramdev and Hazare had misused tricolour for political activities. He said the duo used tricolour at different events which were aimed to sully Congress image on baseless issues. “Misuse of tricolour is not allowed. Hence, stern action must be taken against both Ramdev and Hazare,” he added.

Ambedkar hospital medicines being sold outside: Cong

Raipur, August 24, 2012

Alleging that medicines of Ambedkar hospital were being sold outside and the doctors were compelling patients to buy medicines from drug stores, a delegation of Congress leaders submitted a memorandum to hospital superintendent Dr Vivek Choudhary on Friday.

The delegation informed that the patients diarrhea, malaria and other seasonal diseases were not getting basic facilities like medicines and beds in the hospital.

The delegation mounted pressure on Choudhary to take stern action against the guilty doctors who were benefiting private drug stores.

“Choudhary regretted that such trend prevailed despite ample stock of medicines for different diseases. He issued directive that the doctors should stop compelling patients to buy medicines from private drug stores or else complaint would be made against them to Health Minister,” said DCC Raipur Urban president Inderchand Dhariwal.

On the occasion, Dhariwal was accompanied by Dr Niranjan Haritwal, Dinesh Tiwari, Nitin Thakur, Manish Dayal, Vimal Christian, Yogesh Tiwari, etc.

Cong makes slight change in training camp prog

Raipur, August 24, 2012

Making slight change in its forthcoming Vidhan Sabha-level workers’ training camp to be held in Balodabazar on August 30, the Congress will now hold the camp in the region on September 4, 2012. However, the party’s August 29 VS-level training camp in Masturi will remain unchanged.

Accordingly, the party has changed the date of its collectorate gherao programme in Kanker district under its anti-govt movement. Earlier, the programme was scheduled to be held on September 4 but now it has been extended to September 6.

This has been done due to changed schedule of Balodabazar training camp, informed party’s chief spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi. Now collectorate gherao programmes in Kanker and Narayanpur will be organised on September 6, he added.

Next week, the party will gherao collectorates in Bemetara (August 27), Kawardha (August 28), Raigarh (August 30), Rajnandgaon (August 31) and Balod (September 1) districts.

Trivedi informed that state Congress head Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey will participate in all the training camps and collectorate gherao programmes.

The party aims to complete its Assembly-level training programmes by December 2012 while the collectorate gherao programme would be concluded at Raipur on October 1, 2012.

Sikh community website to be launched on 26th

Raipur, August 24, 2012

State’s Sikh community will launch its website at station road-based hotel at 4 pm on August 26.

The society’s spokespersons Mahendra Chhabda and Surendra Singh Chhabda informed that website would also contain Sikh matrimonial for which registration would be started soon.

During the website launch programme, the new office-bearers of society’s youth wing will take charge. The society will also felicitate its youths who have successfully cleared their chartered accountant (CA) exam.

On the occasion will be present the society’s patrons and MLAs Gurmukh Singh Hora and Kuldeep Singh Juneja.

Besides, Jagjeet Singh Khanuja, Bhupendra Singh Savanni, Ajinder Singh Chawla, Satpal Singh Gandhi, Diler Singh Hora, Gurucharan Singh Hora, Gurubaksh Singh Chhabda, Preetam Singh Chhabda, Trilochan Singh Chawla, Surendra Singh Khanuja, etc.

No leadership change in state Congress till 2013 polls

Hariprasada says Patel, Choubey to lead next Assembly elections

Hints change in party’s lower cadre

Raipur, August 23, 2012

Rubbishing all rumours regarding leadership change in state Congress, the AICC general secretary and party’s state unit incharge BK Hariprasada has said that PCC president Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey will remain intact till 2013 Assembly polls. “Both Patel and Choubey will lead the party in next Vidhan Sabha elections,” said Hariprasada assertively while talking to media at New Circuit House on Thursday evening after attending party’s workers’ training camps at Kanker and Farasgaon.

He, however, hinted that there could be changes in the party’s lower cadre - precisely the performance of DCC and BCC presidents is being examined critically.

He held the BJP hands responsible behind ‘PCC leadership change rumours’. His backing to Patel and Choubey came as major relief to the organisation which was befuddled with the rumours and Delhi-visit of too many senior party leaders from different factions in recent past.

Hariprasada claimed that the party had succeeded in infusing new energy in the workers from state to booth-level.  He informed that the Assembly-level workers’ training camp which commenced on August 7 would conclude by December 2012.

On controversial letter being circulated in party he again blamed BJP and said the members of ruling party want to debilitate the opposition. Asked whether it was a mischief of any party insider, he expressed his ignorance and said he would surely order probe if information in that regard would be provided.

On coal blocks allocation he said the Centre did it on recommendations of the state government. He reiterated that Chief Minister Raman Singh had strongly opposed auction of coal blocks.

When cited the CM’s statement in which he said ‘he did not know many individuals/companies whom coal blocks had been allocated’, Hariprasada admitted of such possibility and said ‘then Singh would have been opposing because the Centre declined some of the private companies recommended by him’.

“The Congress wants to hold debate on coal blocks allocation in Parliament and if the BJP would continue its ‘session-obstructive tactics’ then we will frame fresh strategy to deal the situation,” he said.

On illegal mining in Bellary (Karnataka) he said if calculated the corruption there would surpass all the scams. He indicated that the mining baron Janardan Reddy was in jail for past one and a half years in Bellary illegal mining case.

When sought his take over PA Sangma’s decision to constitute new political party, Hariprasada said the idea clicked very late in the tribal leader’s mind, in fact after taking various benefits in Congress for about 30-40 years.  

Agri Minister fast a political drama: Congress

Raipur, August 23, 2012

Congress has termed by Agriculture Minister Chandrashekhar Sahu’s fast as mere political drama. “Strangely, the minister decided to do political purification after his name appeared in Chabilal Sahu suicide case and when High Court ordered for judicial probe into the matter,” said PCC spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla on Thursday.

Alleging that the BJP government was trying to save its minister after Chabilal evidently blamed the latter for his suicidal step, Shukla said the minister should have stepped down or been sacked and criminal case must have filed against him.

Students’ union polls: NSUI burns BJP govt effigy

Raipur, August 23, 2012

The NSUI members on Thursday burnt an effigy of BJP government at Budhapara-based dharna spot for stalling students’ union polls.

“The government has merely announced to conduct students’ union polls but does not seem serious on it. The coordination committee, in its June 28, 2012 meeting, had decided that the elections would be organised in all the universities. According to academic calendar, the polls should have been conducted till August 23, i.e. till Thursday but the government had not even issued notification in this regard,” said the NSUI leader Gulzeb Ahmed.

He alleged that the BJP government was scared of NSUI’s popularity and hence deferring students’ union polls.

He said the NSUI members would show black flag to every government representative if the polls would be held quickly.

While burning effigy, Ahmed was accompanied by Ajay Pal, Shahbaz Hussein, Sheikh Asif, Nadeem Salat, Ashish Ghosh, Shashikant Barore, Pankaj Singh, etc.

Media engaged in diffusing misleading reports: Mishra

Raipur, August 23, 2012

Panchayat and Rural Development Department director Subhash Mishra says that the media is engaged in diffusing misleading reports and hence the common people cannot get actual information. “Nowadays, misleading reports on the name of crime, entertainment and religion are rife,” said Mishra while addressing students at a lecture programme organised by journalism department of Mahant Laxminarayan Das College on Thursday.

“In the current era, the media cannot tell complete fact. Under pressure of cut-throat competition, instead of giving evident information in terms of report, the media tinges its prejudices in the matter before presenting it,” Mishra said.

The college principal Dr Devashish Mukherjee said journalism had widened and entered in every dimension of life. “The information too has become categorised,” he said.

Senior lecturer Mirza Masood said common man has disappeared from journalism.

YC asks RMC to install traffic signal at BTI chowk

Raipur, August 23, 2012

The Youth Congress (YC) has once again demanded from Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) to install traffic signal at BTI chowk. In favour of their demand, the YC members led by Amitesh Bhardwaj submitted a memorandum to municipal’s deputy commissioner SK Sundarani on Thursday.

Bhardwaj said the YC members and the locals had been demanding traffic signal at BTI chowk for long time as the vehicle movement in the area had increased to manifolds.

“The heavy traffic at BTI chowk can cause mishap anytime. Hence, we had recently conducted signature campaign in favour of our demand and people responded it positively,” he added.

He warned Sundarani that the YC would launch aggressive agitation at BTI chowk if the traffic signal would not be installed there rapidly.

On the occasion, Bhardwaj was accompanied by Ajanta Kaviraj, Sanjay Soni, Akash Tiwari, Amit Kausaria, Saket Vaidya, Harshit Jaiswal, Kishan Chandani, Sattu Singh, Sewak Yadav, etc.

CM was against auction of coal blocks: Hariprasada

Raipur, August 22, 2012

Hitting hard at Chief Minister Raman Singh over CAG report on coal blocks allocation, the AICC general secretary and party’s state unit incharge BK Hariprasada has termed his statement political.

“The CM was rather against auction of coal blocks and had opposed it by writing a letter to Centre,” he said while he was interacting with the media at Mana airport before leaving for Kanker to attend the party’s day-long workers’ training camp on Wednesday morning.

Earlier, the CM had stated that the Centre ignored his objections and allocated coal blocks to unknowns. He had further said that the allocation should have been done through auction.

In response, Hariprasada said, “The CM is not a kid something significant would happen without his knowledge. The posts of Prime Minister and CM are constitutional and they have to function accordingly. The people holding such posts never work under any pressure. The Centre allocated coal blocks from 1998 to 2004 following all the rules. It was rather the CM who had opposed auction proposal.”

When sought his take our proposed expansion of PCC executive with appointment of a couple of new general secretaries, he said he would take decision on recommendations of state unit president Nandkumar Patel and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey. He further said that the party was primarily focusing in appointing new presidents for Raipur and Mahasamund DCCs.

When asked his stance over fasting by Agriculture Minister Chandrashekhar Sahu after his name was dragged into Chabilal Sahu suicide case and High Court directing judicial probe into the matter, Hariprasada said the minister had lost his wisdom. “In fact, all the BJP leaders have lost their wisdom,” he said.

Hariprasada was earlier accorded rousing welcome by the partymen. He interacted with the party leaders and media for a short while at airport and then proceeded to Kanker.

Authorise gram sabhas to dole transit passes: Jogi to CM

Raipur, August 22, 2012

enior Congress MLA Ajit Jogi has demanded from Chief Minister Raman Singh to authorise gram sabhas to distribute transit passes.

Jogi’s demand came in the form of a letter in which he cited the letter written by Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh to the CM urging to give right to the gram sabhas to distribute transit passes.

“In his letter, Ramesh had mentioned that the idea was implemented in Maharashtra’s Garhchiroli district on experimental basis and the result was tremendous with improvement in financial condition of local tribals. Ramesh said that the tribals of Chhattisgarh can also get similar benefits if the gram sabhas would be empowered with right to dole out transit passes,” Jogi wrote.

“The bamboo jungles in Chhattisgarh have spread in large tracts of lands. Unfortunately, Maoism expanded rapidly in these areas. If the state government would accept Ramesh’s proposal then it would not only be able to strengthen socio-economic condition of the local tribals but would also succeed in debilitating the naxals,” Jogi said.

Special drive for kids’ health check-up from Aug 24

Under child protection month

Raipur, August 22, 2012

The Raipur district administration will launch special campaign of vaccination and health check-up programme for children and pregnant women under its child protection month from August 24 to September 30.

The drive aims to vaccinate children dwelling in rural pockets. Besides, the health teams at Aanganbadi-level will do registration of pregnant women and distribute iron and vitamin A tablets. The district administration has done micro-planning at development block-level to make the campaign successful.

The officials of the Health department informed that the field staff would visit door-to-door under the campaign. Meanwhile, the malnourished children would be identified and referred to rehabilitation centres for treatment.

According to information, the district administration will take help of different departments including Women and Child Development Department to reach to the people living in remote rural areas.

Apart from this campaign, the district administration will launch special vaccination week for DPT, polio etc. Under this week the children, who had not been vaccinated amid August-December 2012, would be administered doses of polio and given vaccine of DPT, etc.

NYC state executive list released

Raipur, August 22, 2012

The Nationalist Youth Congress (NYC) released list of its state executive body on Wednesday. The NYC state president Rajesh Jain informed that the list executive body will comprise of five vice presidents, six general secretaries, eight secretaries and six organisational secretaries.

Besides, Raj Bhosle will be media incharge while Rakesh Agrawal and Alok Sonwani will be convenors of Janjgir-Champa district.

Jain also announced that names of nine district presidents who are – Raipur – Harishankar Bansor, Mahasamund – Girish Patel, Dhamtari – Abhishek Vaikar, Gariyaband – Kedar Sinha, Durg – Sagar Goswami, Rajnandgaon – Prahlad Khoobchandani, Balod – Abdul Ibrahim, Kawardha – Shatrughan Manikpuri, Bilaspur – Ritesh Shukla and Ambikapur – Sewakram Kanwar.

The vice presidents of NYC state executive are – Naveen Shrivastava (Rajnandgaon), Prashant Gupta (Raipur), Ashok Agrawal (Bagbahra), Deepak Dubey (Janjgir-Champa) and Rafeeq Memon (Koria).

The general secretaries are – Ishwar Chandel (Bilaspur), Rajesh Pandey (Raipur), Abhishek Gour (Bhilai), Nagendra Thakur (Komakhan), Baba Soni (Gariyaband) and Shailesh Choudhary (Rajnandgaon).

The secretaries are – Satish Sahu (Mahasamund), Gopal Soni (Champa), Sovit Shrivas (Jarve), Chandrakant Sen (Ganjar), Somnath Dutta (Koria), Cyril Kumar Dhritlahre (Raigarh), Jeevan Sinha – Gariyaband and Anita Sewani – Mahasamund.

The organisational secretaries are – Mukesh Ramteke (Gariyaband), Sachin Soni (Durg), Naushad Khan (Koria), Raghunath Sahu (Bundeli, Bagbahra), Dr Arvind Jain (Raipur) and Dr Rakesh Sahu (Mahasamund).

Medical, sales rep to stage nationwide strike today

Raipur, August 22, 2012

The Madhya Pradesh – Chhattisgarh Medical and Sales Representatives’ Union (MPCGMSRU) on Wednesday said that certain section of the society including a couple of electronic news channels were spreading rumours against medical representatives (MR). This has resulted in prohibition of entry of MRs in make government and private hospitals, said the union. In protest, the union informed that all the MRs across the country would stage nationwide strike on Thursday. In Chhattisgarh, the union said, about 10000 MRs would gather at Budhapara-based dharna spot at 11 am. The MRs will then take out rally at 1 pm at submit memorandum to Health Minister, Labour Minister and Raipur Collector, the union informed.

BJP creating fuss over CAG report: Jogi

Says CM first opposed auction of coal blocks, but now denying

Raipur, August 21, 2012

Senior Congress MLA Ajit Jogi has mocked BJP for triggering fresh salvo against Centre over CAG reports on coal blocks allocation terming the entire exercise mere fuss.

“It was Chief Minister Raman Singh who had earlier opposed auction of coal blocks, but has now taken a U-turn and refusing to have done so,” said Jogi.

He cited the letters written by Singh and former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje to Centre urging it not to adopt auction process for coal blocks allocation when suggestions in that regard was sought from Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan states.

“It was back in February 2005 when the UPA government had sought inputs from all the CMs regarding coal blocks allocation. At that time, the then Chief Secretary AK Vijaywargiya had written letter to the Centre urging to continue with the existing policy and not to go for open bid,” Jogi added.  

“Similar was the tone of Rajasthan CM who had mentioned in letter that coal blocks allocation through auction would be violation to the rights of the states. She requested the rights to select individuals or companies for coal blocks allocation should be reserved with states,” he said.

“Now, when the CAG report says that the state governments would have received several crores if the Centre had adopted auction system and ignored the suggestions of states as well as eligibility of applicants on coal blocks allocation, Singh has suddenly changed his tone,” he said.

He said the BJP should refrain from doublespeak and stop leveling baseless charges on Centre pertaining to coal blocks allocation.

Bad roads: YC gheraoes PWD office

Raipur, August 21, 2012

The members of Youth Congress (YC) on Tuesday gheraoed PWD office terming the department responsible for deteriorated roads in the state.

In this connection, they also submitted a memorandum to department’s executive engineer DK Pradhan and warned him of gheraoing PWD Minister Brijmohan Agrawal’s residence if the condition of the roads would not be improved quickly.

“The roads of entire state including capital city have deteriorated. It happened because substandard materials were being used in road construction works. This cannot happen unless there is nexus between the PWD officials and the contractors. Eventually, people are suffering as road mishaps have become order of the day in the state,” said YC’s Raipur North Assembly area general secretary Dilip Singh Chouhan.

On the occasion, Chouhan was accompanied by YC members Sheikh Shakeel, Bablu Raza, Azhar Rahman, Wasim Quasif, Bakar Abbas, Mukesh Kurre, Pradeep Yadav, Anil Yadav, Kamlesh Garg, Chandrashekhar Tandon, Sushil Jangde, David Kurre, etc.

Politics deepens over RMC general body meeting

Raipur, August 21, 2012

Politics over general body meeting (GBM) in Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) has deepened with municipal commissioner TP Sinha writing to speaker Sanjay Shrivastava that decision to fix date for GBM must be taken by him (Shrivastava) and mayor Kiranmayi Nayak.

Earlier, Shrivastava had fixed August 24 for GBM when Nayak had proposed to hold the meeting on August 16 or 18. In reply, Nayak proposed September 25 for the meeting indicating that she would be on month-long religious tour from August 20.

Shrivastava then wrote letter to Sinha asking him to use his discretionary powers to hold GBM but received unexpected response. Sinha said according to Municipal Act 18(2) and 29, the date for GBM should be fixed by speaker and mayor by evolving consensus.

On Shrivastava’s argument that the GBM should be conducted in every two months, Sinha replied that considering earlier trend the meeting could be held even after two months.

Shrivastava had also objected over a couple of agendas included for the GMB terming them not related to the public welfare but Sinha said all agendas were linked to public.

Now, Shrivastava will have to wait for Nayak’s return, although he is being pressurised by the opposition BJP to conduct GBM even in the absence of the mayor.

Sweets distributed to deaf, dumb kids

Raipur, August 21, 2012

The members of Chhattisgarh Prantiya Yuwa Agrawal Manch (CPYAM) distributed sweets and fruits to children at deaf and dumb school – Kopalvani at Sundar Nagar on the occasion of Independence Day on August 15. The CPYAM district president Amit Choudhary informed that their organisation also felicitated Kopalvani director Padma Sharma, teaching and non-teaching staffers. On the occasion, CPYAM members Sumit Agrawal, Kanhaiyya Agrawal, Shubham Agrawal, Ankit Agrawal, representatives of other communities – Vikas Motwani, Neeraj Mishra, Ashish Pandey, Sunil Rathore, Rajesh Jaiswal, Samarth Gaur, Rishi Sharma, etc were present.

Six-day consultation camp on deafness begins

Raipur, August 21, 2012

To provide consultation on modern treatment of deafness a six-day camp began at Civil Lines-based Hearing Care Centre on Tuesday. The consultation timings in the camp will be 9 am to 8 pm everyday till August 26.

Free disabled surgery camp to conclude on Aug 26

Raipur, August 21, 2012

The free disabled surgery camp organised by Akhil Bharatiya Chetna Parishad (ABCP), Mahamaya Charitable Foundation (MCF) and Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry will conclude at Lalpur-based Leprosy hospital on August 26. State Assembly Speaker Dharamlal Kaushik will be chief guest while ABCP national general secretary Dr DP Agrawal will preside over the programme. In the camp, the doctors conducted operation of 44 disabled by limbs from 1-30 years of age.

Hariprasada to attend Cong camps at Kanker, Keshkal

Raipur, August 20, 2012

Congress will hold two back-to-back day-long workers’ training camp at Vidhan Sabha-level in Kanker and Farasgaon (Keshkal VS area) on August 22 and 23. The AICC general secretary and party’s state unit incharge BK Hariprasada will attend both the camps along with senior PCC leaders.

Hariprasada had earlier attended the party’s VS-level training camp – manthan at Dalli Rajhara under Daundilohara Vidhan Sabha area on August 7.

During his visit, the party had thrown rousing welcome to him at Mana airport and large convoy accompanied him to and fro Dalli Rajhara under heavy security considering BJYM’s protest in wake of his recent derogatory remarks against BJP and RSS, although Chief Minister Raman Singh’s quick-talk to BJYM leaders resulted in marked reduction in acrimony between the ruling and opposition parties.

However, Hariprasada maintains that he would continue to hit the BJP government in same acerbic tone as he did earlier. Hence, while the party will stick to the fundamental training programmes at Kanker and Farasgaon, Hariprasada, PCC president Nandkumar Patel, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey and senior party leaders will appeal the participants to increase attacks on the government.  

 According to information, Hariprasada will arrive in state capital on August 22 morning through regular flight from New Delhi. He will reach Kanker along with Patel and Choubey via road route and attend the training camp.

On the following day (August 23), he will attend training camp at Farasgaon and return to Raipur at evening.

On August 24, the party will gherao Durg collectorate under its anti-government movement. This gherao programme will be led by both Patel and Choubey.

The training camps will be attended by PCC office-bearers, heads of cells and morchas, party’s public representatives and senior leaders of Bastar division.

Govt industrial policy to benefit SC, ST entrepreneurs

Raipur, August 20, 2012

The government’s five-year industrial policy (2009-2014) contains host of benefits for scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) people aspiring to establish their industrial units.

The industrial policy contains special provisions besides several grants for SC and ST entrepreneurs.

According to information, the aspirants could take benefits like free-of-cost land allocation, reservation in plot allocation, grant for capital investment, grant for margin money, interest grant, etc by applying district entrepreneurship and industrial centre of their respective areas.

There will be provision of 25% of industrial land reservation in developing areas and 50% in backward areas for SC and ST entrepreneurs for two years.

The margin money (i.e. 25% of the total investment) to be paid to the bank to get loan will be provided by the government. However, the margin money amount should not exceed Rs 35 lakh.

Similarly, interest grant (75% of the term loan interest or maximum of 60 lakh) would be provided annually for seven years. Similarly, the government will provide capital investment grant, which will either be 35-45 percent of the total investment or up to Rs five crore.

The government will also give cash prizes to best three SC and ST entrepreneurs, i.e. Rs one lakh, Rs 51000 and Rs 31000. Besides, the government will waive off stamp and land-diversion duties on lands allocated to SC and ST entrepreneurs.

Govt’s disaster management fails: Jogi

Raipur, August 20, 2012

Senior Congress legislator Ajit Jogi on Monday said that the government’s disaster management had completely failed as it had not yet succeeded in normalising life in flood-hit Bastar division.

“The Bastarians incurred huge loss in terms of life and property during recent downpour that flooded many regions of the division. However, the government disaster management department could not take measures to improve situation in the tribal belt at war-foot as was expected from it,” pointed Jogi.

He said the Chief Minister Raman Singh was merely taking stock of the situation from the officials through video conferencing and was completely unaware of the ground reality.

“The government should immediately shift the flood-hit people to safer places and provide them necessary materials including proper compensation,” he demanded.

He said it is an irony that despite receiving ample fund for disaster management from Centre the state government could not make use of it properly.

Cong pays tribute to Rajiv Gandhi

Raipur, August 20, 2012

Congress paid tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his birth anniversary on Monday. The party and its frontal organisations remembered Gandhi by organising programmes in different parts of the city.

State Congress president Nandkumar Patel and other Congmen garlanded his statute at Rajiv Gandhi chowk.

At Congress Bhawan, Patel said Gandhi dreamt of making the country prosperous and powerful.

“Gandhi wanted to make India a developed nation. It was his initiatives that the youth are able to cast vote in elections at age of 18. He was pioneer of information technology (IT) revolution in the country. He had strongly advocated equal rights for women in local bodies,” Patel said.

Senior Congress legislator Ajit Jogi paid tribute to Gandhi by terming him father of information and broadcasting revolution in the country. He said Gandhi was mature politician and never hesitated in admitting that only 15 out of 100 paise reach to the last citizen. 

The party’s Jhuggi Jhopdi cell leader Sewak Mahanand and other members of the cell also homage to Gandhi by calling him builder of young India. 

The party leaders who attended tribute programme at Congress Bhawan were PCC general secretary Ramesh Warlyani, MLA Amitesh Shukla, PCC spokesperson Mahendra Chhabda, DCC Raipur Rural president Pankaj Sharma, Paras Chopra, Murlidhar Netam, Anjay Shukla, Kalpana, Chhaya Verma, Vikas Upadhyay, Niranjan Haritwal, Madanlal Taleda, Sanjay Pathak, Shiv Singh Thakur, Ramawtar Dewangan, Suresh Mishra, Ghanshyam Tiwari, Kanhaiyyalal Agrawal, Suresh Thakur, Shreekumar Menon, Aijaz Dhebar, Radheshyam Vibhar, Samir Pandey, Bhagwanu Nayak, Daulat Rohra, Rajesh Thakur, Arun Bhadra, Hardeep Singh Benipal, Sunita Sharma, etc.