Nadda lost credibility in party: Cong

Raipur, June 28, 2013

Reacting to Chhattisgarh BJP incharge Jagat Prakash Nadda’s statement that no outsider has purchased state lands, Congress on Friday said Nadda had been prevaricating continuously in the recent past and his efforts to defend the government on sale of state lands to outsiders was the latest lie in his kitty. 

“Nadda has rather lost credibility in the party due to this habit. The Congress once again advises Nadda to increase his general knowledge about Chhattisgarh before giving any statement,” said PCC spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi.

“The outsiders have purchased thousands of acres of land Chhattisgarh and the BJP and its government provided them full-support in doing so. Nadda can ask any independent agency to probe into these land deals to elicit facts,” he said. 

 “In Chhattisgarh, the BJP government forcibly acquired lands from farmers on the name of industrialisation. This government actually conspired to make the farmers landless and servants on their lands acquired by the industrialists,” he alleged.

“Everybody in state knows that home minister Nankiram Kanwar’s son was the key land broker for Videocon. He had purchased several acres of lands from tribals at low rate for the company. Similarly, relatives of one state minister got registered farmers’ lands illegally in Bhadoura (Bilaspur). The registry was also done on name of some outsiders,” he said.

“Nadda should not forget that the BJP government allotted Farsa block to Adani group whose owner is close to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. Besides the state government allotted Bhatgaon coal blocks to Sancheti brothers who are close to former BJP president Nitin Gadkari. InKorba, the government gave 3000 acres land to BALCO at low rate, i.e. at Rs 200 per acre,” he pointed.

“In Durg, people from Haryana bought thousands of acres of land and developed farm houses. They also encroached farmers’ lands. They even killed people belonging to scheduled caste community from village Bhurki for opposing land encroachment,” he said.

He also lashed at Nadda for claiming that Chhattisgarh is a pollution-free state. “Before giving this certificate to his government, Nadda should tour industrial areas of thestate from Urla, Siltara (Raipur) to Korba, Bilaspur, etc,” he said.

BJP wants to take political mileage through job scheme: Cong

Raipur, June 28, 2013

Congress on Friday alleged that the BJP government simply wanted to take political advantage through its Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojna (MMSY) and did not actually intend to benefit the youth from the scheme. 

“MMSY is yet another political gimmick of the ruling BJP to take advantage in upcoming assembly polls. The government has earlier deceived youth during 2008 Vidhan Sabha polls by promising them to give unemployment allowance and job to at least one young member of every tribal family,” said Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla. 

“Congress has history of deceiving people. It is well aware that MMSY would never touch practical reality as with just a couple of months left for assembly polls, code of conduct will come into effect in coming days,” he said.

“If the government was concerned about future of youth then why it took nine and a half years in bringing this scheme and that too just before polls,” he asked.

“Still, if the government really wants to implement MMSY then it should tell how many youth will get benefited by it before code of conduct coming into effect,” he further asked.

He said the youngsters of the state were well aware of the government’s trickery did not trust it anymore.

CG farmers to get extra benefit by paddy MSP hike: Cong

Raipur, June 28, 2013

Hailing Rs 60 hike in minimum support price (MSP) of paddy by Centre, the Congress on Friday said the farmers of Chhattisgarh would now get additional benefit of Rs 36 crore from the latest announcement.

“About 60 lakh tonne paddy has been procured this years under MSP in state. With hike in paddy MSP by Rs 60, the state farmers will get added benefit of Rs 36 crore,” said acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey.

They said as compared to paddy MSP hike by Congress-led UPA government in two terms, i.e. by Rs 450 and Rs 410, the BJP-led NDA government increased the support price by just Rs 60 in five years of its regime. This shows BJP’s anti-farmer face,” they said.

“Now its turn of state BJP government to follow the suit and fulfill the promise it made in its election manifesto in 2008 assembly polls to disburse Rs 270 paddy bonus to the farmers for five years. Let the government instantly disburse pending paddy bonus amount of Rs 3880 crore to the farmers,” they said.

Choudhary to convene PMC meeting today

Raipur, June 28, 2013
The vice president of Mahila Congress and Chhattisgarh Pradesh Mahila Congress (PMC) incharge Deepti Choudhary will convene meeting of PMC office-bearers at Congress Bhawan on Saturday. 
 

The objective of the meeting is to discuss over organisation’s poll preparations andchalk out strategy to attack BJP government on women-related issued, informed PMC secretary and spokesperson Nivedita Chatterjee. 

After meeting, Choudhary will interact with media persons at 4 pm, Chatterjee added. 

The meeting also be attended by union minister of state and acting PCC president Charandas Mahant, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey, PCC programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel, PMC president Ambika Markam and organisation’s national secretary Ayesha Siddiqui.

Chatterjee further informed that Choudhary would also hold district-level meetings of PMC members in Durg at 1 pm and Rajnandgaon at 3 pm on June 30. 

Considering Choudhary’s arrival, Chatterjee said, Markam held meeting of PMC office-bearers on Friday. The meeting was attended by Asha Joseph, Bhojkumari Yadu, Parvati Sahu, Akda Thakur, Premlata Bhoi, Chhaya Verma, Chandrawati Sahu, Sulochana Thakur, Anita Kosaria, Pushpa Pradhan, etc.

Congress to make right use of social media for polls: Priya Dutt

Raipur, June  27, 2013

AICC secretary and deputy incharge of Congress media department Priya Dutt on Thursday said the congress wanted to make right use of social media considering upcoming assembly polls in five states in 2013 end and general elections in 2014. “My job is to update media department in every state. So, there will be reshuffle and additional appointments in media departments of our state units in coming days,” said Dutt while talking to scribes at Congress Bhawan.

Dutt, who was on day-long visit to Raipur to interact with PCC media department and convey message of party vice president Rahul Gandhi regarding revamping of media departments of state units, said her prime responsibility is to upgrade infrastructure and provide requisite manpower to the media department of every state unit. 

“The objective of is to improve communication network between party’s national and state cardres. With hi-tech set-up in media departments, there will be better coordination between state units and central leadership.  We will soon link media centres of all state units to our central unit through internet. Our effort is to strengthen the party in social media, research and communication,” she added.

She further said that the party had always focused on works instead of propaganda. “Our concentration is in working for public welfare, not to gain publicity,” she said.

Admitting that the Congress was weak in social media she said in coming days the party would focus in hi-tech campaigns. 

 “We will soon appoint a few more spokespersons in Chhattisgarh to beef up the party and reach to the common people more effectively,” she said.

According to information, Dutt will appoint five more spokespersons in Chhattisgarh unit. In this connection, she held talks with acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey and the media department on Thursday. The party’s is likely to announce names of new spokespersons after July 1, 2013. 

Just recently, Gandhi had renamed party’s media department as communication, publicity and publication department and inducted several new faces including Dutt who will assist AICC general secretary and department head Ajay Makan.  According to information, he has assigned job the Makan and Dutt to prepare new generation of spokespersons who could strike balance between aggression and calm while putting party’s stand before media. 

In Chhattisgarh, the media department of state Congress witnessed slight change during PCC president Nandkumar Patel’s regime. Patel appointed five media persons – Shailesh Nitin Trivedi,  Amir Ali Farishta, Mahendra Chhabda, Rajesh Bissa and Sushil Anand Shukla. Patel was planning to expand the media department but he could not as he got killed in naxal attack on May 25, 2013. 

The party insiders say that fresh lot of spokespersons in the media department might include new as well as old faces.

Congress to make right use of social media for polls: Priya Dutt

Says her job is to update media department in every state

Will appoint five more spokespersons in PCC 

Raipur, June  27, 2013

AICC secretary and deputy incharge of Congress media department Priya Dutt on Thursday said the congress wanted to make right use of social media considering upcoming assembly polls in five states in 2013 end and general elections in 2014. “My job is to update media department in every state. So, there will be reshuffle and additional appointments in media departments of our state units in coming days,” said Dutt while talking to scribes at Congress Bhawan.

Dutt, who was on day-long visit to Raipur to interact with PCC media department and convey message of party vice president Rahul Gandhi regarding revamping of media departments of state units, said her prime responsibility is to upgrade infrastructure and provide requisite manpower to the media department of every state unit. 

“The objective of is to improve communication network between party’s national and state cardres. With hi-tech set-up in media departments, there will be better coordination between state units and central leadership.  We will soon link media centres of all state units to our central unit through internet. Our effort is to strengthen the party in social media, research and communication,” she added.

She further said that the party had always focused on works instead of propaganda. “Our concentration is in working for public welfare, not to gain publicity,” she said.

Admitting that the Congress was weak in social media she said in coming days the party would focus in hi-tech campaigns. 

 “We will soon appoint a few more spokespersons in Chhattisgarh to beef up the party and reach to the common people more effectively,” she said.

According to information, Dutt will appoint five more spokespersons in Chhattisgarh unit. In this connection, she held talks with acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey and the media department on Thursday. The party’s is likely to announce names of new spokespersons after July 1, 2013. 

Just recently, Gandhi had renamed party’s media department as communication, publicity and publication department and inducted several new faces including Dutt who will assist AICC general secretary and department head Ajay Makan.  According to information, he has assigned job the Makan and Dutt to prepare new generation of spokespersons who could strike balance between aggression and calm while putting party’s stand before media. 

In Chhattisgarh, the media department of state Congress witnessed slight change during PCC president Nandkumar Patel’s regime. Patel appointed five media persons – Shailesh Nitin Trivedi,  Amir Ali Farishta, Mahendra Chhabda, Rajesh Bissa and Sushil Anand Shukla. Patel was planning to expand the media department but he could not as he got killed in naxal attack on May 25, 2013. 

The party insiders say that fresh lot of spokespersons in the media department might include new as well as old faces.

Party will do self-analisys on Cong debacle in bypolls: Jogi

Raipur, June  27, 2013

Senior Congress legislator Ajit Jogi on Thursday said Congress would do self-analysis on party’s debacle in Keshkal and Bagbahra bypolls. 

“We humbly accept the defeat. We will discuss about it in the party meeting,” he said while talking to the media persons after the results of Keshkal and Bagbahra bypolls were declared on Thursday. 

Asked whether Congress lost the two bypolls due to wrong selection of candidates he said he could not comment on it as he was not involved in candidate-selection procedures. However, he said, the party in its meeting would discuss on all factors that caused it dear in the two bypolls. 

Asked whether chances of rebellion would increase in the party if selection of candidates for upcoming assembly polls would be done on survey basis, he said such situation was less likely to arise as the partymen never conflict after finalisation of ticket. 

Pointed that sympathy factor did not click in the two bypolls, Jogi said he too was unable to comprehend how it happened and why the party could not take advantage of sympathy factor. 

Notably, the byelections in Keshkal and Bagbahra held on June 24, 2013. While the BJP won Bagbahra bypoll, it was an independent candidate and staunch Jogi supporter Saina Memon who posted victory in Keshkal bypoll. The congress even forfeited its security deposit in Keshkal bypoll.

Before ticket finalisation, the Jogi supporters were expecting that the party would declare Memon as its official candidate, but ticket was given to Mamta Chandrakar. 

Irked by party decision, the Jogi supporters decided to filed Memon as independent candidate. Meanwhile, the party expelled four Jogi stalwarts for campaigning against its official candidate in the bypoll. 

Then blamegame started between Chandrakar and Jogi camp. When Chandrakar alleged that Jogi’s son Amit had campaigned against her, the latter filed suit against her. 

On June 26, Chandrakar and party’s poll observer Rajesh Tiwari submitted comprehensive report to acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant regarding bypoll. They also reportedly complained against Jogi faction.

We will review what went wrong: Mahant

Acting PCC president Charandas Mahant said the party would review what went wrong in two bypolls that led to its defeat. 

Pointing that the independent candidate in Keshkal bypoll got majority votes in Boregaon region where Maoists had attacked a couple of days prior to bypoll, he said while the independent candidate received 600 votes, the Congress candidate got only 61. “We will inquire how it happened,” he added.

He further indicated that despite announcement by naxals to boycott Keshkal bypoll the polling in the entire region was high, i.e. about 70-80%.

Priya Dutt holds meeting of Cong media department

Raipur, June  27, 2013

AICC secretary deputy incharge of Congress media department Priya Dutt convened meeting of PCC spokesperson at Congress Bhawan on Thursday. 

In the meeting, she informed how the party plans to make the media department effective and interactive through better techniques. She also took stock of PCC media centre’s activities. 

On the occasion were present acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey, PCC spokespersons Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, Amir Ali Farishta, Mahendra Chhabda, Sushil Anand Shukla, Rajesh Bissa, RMC mayor Kiranmayi Nayak, PCC general secretary Subhash Sharma and president of Congress IT cell Sameer Pandey.

During meeting, Pandey also informed Dutt about IT cell’s activities. Later, Dutt met the partymen who are active in social media and gave significant tips to increase their participation.

Remove nodal officer appointed for Darbha probe: Cong

Raipur, June  27, 2013

Congress on Thursday asked state government to remove the nodal officer it has appointed for national investigation agency (NIC) team to probe into May 25 Darbha incident. 

Alleging that the government deliberately appointed the particular official as nodal officer who had not provided security to the Congress parivartan yatra despite knowing in advance about naxal movement at Jiram vaelly in Darbha, acting PCC president Charandas Mahant and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey said by doing so the government want to hide the facts.

They further charged that the nodal officer was misusing his discretionary rights to affect the probe.

Priya Dutt pays tribute to deceased leaders

Raipur, June  27, 2013

AICC secretary Priya Dutt paid tribute to deceased party leaders at Congress Bhawan on Thursday. She said all the leaders sacrificed their lives for country. 

She said people would never forget sacrifice of the deceased Congmen. She appealed to the workers and leaders to bolster the party and win upcoming polls.

Union minister of state and acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant said the Congress workers were still in deep shock after May 25-incident. 

CLP leader Ravindra Choubey said the naxal attack on Congress parivartan yatra convoy had weakened the party. She urged Dutt to come to state every month to infuse new energy in party workers. 

On the occasion were present Raipur North MLA Kuldeep Juneja, RMC mayor Kiranmayi Nayak, DCC Raipur Urban president Inderchand Dhariwal. DCC Raipur Rural president Pankaj Sharma, Amit Pandey, Ghanshyam Raju Tiwari, Subhash Dhuppad, etc.

Cong meeting tomorrow

Raipur, June  27, 2013

Acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant will convene a significant meeting at Congress Bhawan on June 29. The meeting will be attended by those partymen who had participated in the parivartan yatra since its beginning and on May 25. 

Slight change in Kalash yatra schedule

Raipur, June  27, 2013

Congress on Thursday made slight change in kalash yatra schedule and decided to start first phase of the yatra from Rajiv Lochan temple Rajim from July 4. Earlier, the yatra was scheduled to start from Nandeli. Now, yatra’s third phase will start from Nandeli. The second phase of the yatra will be taken out from Ma Bamleshwari temple Dongargarh.

Nadda’s remarks baseless: Congress

Raipur, June 26, 2013

Sharply reacting to Chhattisgarh BJP incharge JP Nadda’s remarks that Maoism spread in state during former chief ministers of undivided Madhya Pradesh (MP) Motilal Vora and Digvijay Singh, Congress on Wednesday said Nadda was giving baseless statements as he lacked knowledge about rise of naxals in state’s tribal belts. 

“Naxals had not entered MP and Chhattisgarh region during Vora’s regime. During Singh’s tenure, they were qualified to Bastar. However, they ramified during former CM Sundarlal Patwa. They continued to expand their domain when the BJP came to power in Chhattisgarh in 2003. In fact, the Congress had eradicated extremists from Sarguja and Jashpur during its regime in Chhattisgarh from year 2000 to 2003.,” said Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi.

He alleged that the BJP had never tried to deal naxal issue seriously in its over nine-year rule in the state. 

“The BJP won majority seats in naxal-infested regions in past two assembly polls. The ruling party never tried to improve condition in Bastar through development and other factors and it allowed the naxals to grow in the region because it wanted to take political advantage from its inaction,” he charged.

“The May 25-naxal attack on convoy of Congress parivartan yatra was result of co-existence of ruling BJP and naxals in state,” he said.

He pointed that the central funds meant for the development of Bastar went to corrupt hands and the schemes and projects were never implemented at ground level to benefit the tribals. 

He said the BJP won 11 out of 12 assembly seats in Bastar division in 2008 Vidhan Sabha polls but none of its elected legislators visit their respective constituencies. 

He also lashed at CM Raman Singh for ignoring Bastar’s development pointing that union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh had visited the tribal region many more times than that of former.

First phase of kalash yatra to begin from Nandeli on July 4

N Second phase to start from Rajim on 7^th and third from Dongargarh on 9^th

Raipur, June 26, 2013

Congress will start first phase of its kalash yatra from Nandeli - the home place of late PCC president Nandkumar Patel, on July 4. The second and third phase of the yatra will be taken out from Rajim and Dongargarh on July 7 and 9 respectively. The date of yatra’s fourth phase, to be taken out from Dantewada, will be decided in coming days. 

The party had already announced that it would take out kalash yatra in memory of all those who got killed during naxal attack on May 25, 2013. To take out the yatra, the party has fixed four places – Nandeli, Rajiv Locha temple at Rajim – the workplace of veteran leader Vidya Charan Shukla, Ma Bamleshwari temple at Dongargarh – the home place of former party MLA Uday Mudliyar and Danteshwari temple at Dantewada – the home district of senior tribal leader Mahendra Karma. 

The kalash yatra will reach all 90 assembly constituencies of the state. Terming yatra as non-political tour the party says it wanted to provide opportunity to the people of the state to pay tribute to all the deceased when the yatra would reach their respective areas. 

The party will soon fix date to restart its parivartan yatra too. According to information, the yatra could restart from second fortnight of August 2013.

Cong candidate, observer submit bypoll report to Mahant

Raipur, June 26, 2013

Congress candidate Mamta Chandrakar, who contested in Keshkal bypoll for post of nagar panchayati president, and party’s election observer Rajesh Tiwari submitted their report on the poll to acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant at New Circuit House on Wednesday.

According to information, the duo had complained against Jogi faction that had fielded independent candidate in the bypoll which held on June 24, 2013. Mahant will soon submit the report to Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada.

Notably, the party faced embarrassing situation once again when Jogi faction decided to field Saina Memon as independent candidate in the byelection when she was denied official ticket. Subsequently, party MLA Ajit Jogi indirect challenged Mahant win the Keshkal seat for the party by campaigning for the official candidate Mamta Chandrakar. 

Before the bypoll, the party terminated four staunch Jogi supporters for rebelling and working against party’s official candidate. The four were expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years. 

The party was further shocked when Chandrakar alleged that Jogi’s son Amit campaigned against her and the latter filed defamation suit against her. 

While party rebels are confident of Memon’s victory in the bypoll, the party is unable to comprehend how it would utilise sympathy factor in assembly polls if it fails to do so in Keshkal bypoll. 

Mahant, who had categorically announced while assuming PCC chief’s office that he would not tolerate any kind of indiscipline, too is bewildered by the latest development in the party after Keshkal bypoll. 

He said to be soon seeking inputs from Hariprasada and other senior leaders in New Delhi pertaining to this matter.

Cong bans welcome progs of leaders in districts, blocks

Raipur, June 26, 2013

Union minister of state and acting PCC president Charandas Mahant has prohibited welcome programmes of party leaders in district and blocks. 

PCC general secretary Subhash Sharma on Wednesday sent a circular in this regard to al the district and block heads. In the circular he wrote not to organise welcome programmes (garlanding, hiring of bands and bursting crackers, etc) for party leaders and office-bearers. 

Besides, he asked the DCC and BCC presidents to put images of all the leaders and workers who lost their lives during naxal attack on Congress parivartan yatra convoy at Jiram valley in Darbha region on May 25, 2013.

Sources say the party is in no mood of wasting time on the name of welcome programmes during its forthcoming events and wants to concentrate in cashing in on May 25-incident through yatras and campaigns. 

The circular is also said to be a broader message to the partymen to avoid celebrating small moments and gear up to take more significant challenge of defeating ruling BJP in upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections.

Priya Dutt arriving today

Raipur, June 26, 2013

AICC secretary and MP Priya Dutt will be on day-long Raipur visit on Thursday. She will reach Raipur in the morning through regular flight from New Delhi and then meet party leaders and workers at Congress Bhawan. She will leave for national capital at evening.

Govt failed to give 100-day job to labourers: Cong

Raipur, June 26, 2013

Congress on Wednesday alleged that the government had failed to give at least 100-day job to labourers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). “The figures of last couple of years confirm that that very few families got 100-day job. In this scenario, how come the government claims of giving 150-day job to labourers,” asked Congress spokesperson Rajesh Bissa.

He pointed that labourers of Bastar were facing acute job crisis as the government failed to effectively implement MNREGA in the tribal region. “In 2010-11, only 1.87% families of Bastar got 100-day job. The condition in 2011-12 and 2012-13 was equally worse as only 2.94% and 3.89% families got 100-day job,” he said.

“In 2013-14, only 293 families out of 23099 job cardholder families got 100-day employment. This is the reason the people of Bastar are unable to link to mainstream life, women and children are becoming victim of malnourishment and naxalism is expanding rapidly,” he added.

He alleged that the labourers were not getting 100-day employment due to prevalence of corruption and irregularities in works carried out under MNREGA. 

“According to rules, at least 60% of the allotted fund under MNREGA should be disbursed as labour payment and 40% on materials but due to grafts, none of the rules is being followed. The classic example of MNREGA rule violation is Narayanpur where in 2010-11, Rs 456 lakh was paid to labourers and Rs 503 lakh was spent on materials. Till date, the government has not taken any action into this scam,” he said.

“Instead of hiding its incapability the government should wipe out corruption and irregularities from MNREGA works and take stern action against officials engaged in grafts and scams,” he said.

Cong condoles demise of Subhash Yadav

Raipur, June 26, 2013

Congress condoled demise of former deputy chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh Subhash Yadav on Wednesday. Expressing their deep anguish, union minister of state and acting PCC president Charandas Mahant and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey prayed for peace of the departed soul. They said Yadav always worked in welfare of farmers. They termed Yadav’s demise as major loss for the Congress.

South CG most naxal-affected region in India: Ramesh

Says govt non-existent in about 5000 sq km in Bastar

Asks Chhattisgarh govt to adopt AP policy to wipe Maoists

Raipur, June 25, 2013

Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said south Chhattisgarh was the most naxal-affected region in the country. “There are 80 naxal-hit districts in the country. I found Chhattisgarh’s Sukma, Dantewada, Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, Jagdalpur and Maharashtra’s Garhchirouli as most affected districts by Maoists,” he said while talking to newsmen at Congress Bhawan on Tuesday. He was accompanied by union minister of state for parliamentary affairs V Narayanasamy, Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada, acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey and party MLA Ajit Jogi. 

“The government is non-existent in about 5000 km in Bastar. The Maoists have declared this area as liberal zone,” he said.

“In Narayanpur, only Ramkrishna Mission is carrying out development works, the government is missing. Again in Bijapur, two foreign organisations are providing health services to the people, not the government,” he said.

“It was similar condition in other naxal-hit states too but the respective governments freed the liberal zones from the extremists,” he pointed.

“While Central forces will always provide requisite help to the state government, the primary responsibility lies with local police that are expected to ensure public security,” he said.

Alleging that the government had not appointed adequate police personnel and forest guards in naxal-hit districts he pointed that Sukma district required 3000 cops but had only 1200. 

He asked Chhattisgarh government to adopt Andhra Pradesh (AP) government’s policy to deal naxals. “It was blend of development, security and politics that helped AP to eradicate the extremists,” he said.

Terming May 25-incident as political conspiracy he said the state Congress was campaigning aggressively under its parivartan yatra and received excellent response from the people. 

“The Congress had created such an atmosphere through yatra that it was sure to win public mandate in upcoming polls, but many organisations and ideologies cannot want it to regain power,” he said.

“However, the Congress will continue its parivartan yatra and win Vidhan Sabha elections,” he said.

Many politicians, contractors linked to naxals

Ramesh claimed that several contractors and politicians were linked to naxals in Bastar. “I had recommended the state government to blacklist one such contractor Sanjay Agrawal but nothing happened. I also wrote letter to the CM in this regard thrice. The matter was also raised by our party in the state assembly,” he said. He further said that the contractors were also involved in extortion cases.

Naxals do not believe in democracy

Ramesh said the Maoists did not believe in democracy and therefore had adopted violent route to establish their power. “The naxals will become weak if they would follow democracy,” he said. To a question he said the Centre was ready for talks with naxals.

BJP Govt always ignored security of Congmen: Narayanasamy

Narayanasamy said the BJP government had always ignored security of the Congress leaders. “I extensively toured Bastar when I was incharge of Chhattisgarh Congress but the BJP government did not provide us security. It is apathetic towards security of Conmen even now therefore May 25 incident occurred,” he said.

He said the union home minister too told chief minister Raman Singh that the Congmen were not getting requisite security after Darbha incident. 

“The Centre provided full help to the state government in terms of financial package, forces and weapons to deal naxal issues but the latter failed restore peace in the tribal region,” he added. 

He said it was government’s responsibility to ensure security of members of all political parties during their campaigns or events in naxal-affected areas. 

He further informed that he and Ramesh distributed cheques to the families of the people who lost their lives on May 25 incident at Jagdalpur and Raipur on Tuesday. He said Rs five lakh each was given to families of 26 deceased and Rs 50000 each to families of injured.

CM politicising Central compensation to families of deceased

Sharply reacting to CM’s remark that the union ministers insulted families of naxal victims by inviting them to collect cheques and should have rather handed the cheques at their residences, Narayanasamy said the CM was actually politicising the matter and did not want to the positive gesture shown by the Centre.

Central ministers contradict on responsibility to deal Maoism

Raipur, June 25, 2013

Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh and union minister of state for parliamentary affairs V Narayanasamy contradicted each other on responsibility to deal Maoism while they were talking to scribes at Congress Bhawan on Tuesday. While Ramesh felt that Centre and states should take collective responsibility to deal naxalism, Narayanasamy termed it as local issue and said the state governments were supposed to handle it. 

Terming naxalism as national problem Ramesh said both Centre and states would have to play equal role in eradicating it. Narayanasamy, on the other, said Maoism was a law and order issue and should strictly dealt by the state governments.

Jogi to CM: focus on works in Bastar, not meetings

Raipur, June 25, 2013

Senior Congress MLA Ajit Jogi has asked chief minister Raman Singh to focus on carrying out developmental works in Bastar at grassroot-level instead of holding fruitless meetings. 

While talking to media persons at Congress Bhawan on Tuesday he said the meeting of unified command convened by the CM would never produce any result unless the latter shows commitment at grassroot-level in improving Bastar’s conditions.

“After May 25 incident the government was expected to take action but it remained silent. Meanwhile, the activities of Maoists increased in state. This shows the BJP government is indifferent towards Bastar’s woes,” he added.

He said the government should combat naxals on three fronts– socio-economic, political and law and order.

“While under socio-economic front the government must carry all developmental works in the tribal region, the political front would provide equal opportunity to all political parties to fearlessly do their activities in the region. Finally, the law and order is the most crucial front under which the government is supposed to ensure security of the locals as well as members of political parties who visit the region,” he elaborated. 

On home minister Nankiram Kanwar’s proposal that Centre should deploy army in naxal-infested states to eradicate Maoists, Jogi said the Congress never take the minister’s statements seriously. 

“Kanwar should first talk to his national leaders regarding his proposal because it was BJP president Rajnath Singh and other senior BJP leaders who had strongly opposed deployment of army to deal extremists in naxal-hit states when Centre sought opinion from all political parties,” he said.

Cong’s division-level tribute prog in Jagdalpur today

Raipur, June 24, 2013 

Congress will pay divisional-level tribute to its deceased leaders who lost their lives during naxal attack on May 25 at Jagdalpur on Tuesday. 

Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, union minister of state for parliamentary affairs V Narayanasamy and Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada will also attend the tribute programme. The trio will arrive in the state capital on Tuesday morning and then head towards Jagdalpur. They will be accompanied by union minister of state and acting PCC president Charandas Mahant and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey.

The PCC programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel, party’s vice president and parivartan yatra coordinator TS Singhdeo and several other leaders left for Jagdalpur via road route on Monday. 

The programme will be attended by office-bearers of PCC, district units, block units, Pradesh Mahila Congress, Youth Congress, NSUI, cell, morchas, departments, elected public representatives and senior leaders.

The party plans to intensify its activities from Tuesday from the tribal region after a gap of one month. 

The party is aiming to find its lost rhythm through host of events and campaigns including door-to-door campaign – ghar ghar Congress, har ghar Congress, parivartan yatra, Kalash yatra and quit Chhattisgarh movement.

Darbha incident: Victims’ families to get financial aid today

Raipur, June 24, 2013

The Centre on Tuesday provide financial help to the family members of those who either got killed or received injuries during naxal attack on Congress parivartan yatra’s convoy at Jiram valley in Darbha on May 25, 2013. 

In this connection, union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, union minister of state for parliamentary affairs V Narayanasamy, Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada, union minister of state and acting PCC president Charandas Mahant and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey will distribute cheques to the families of the victims at circuit house at 12 pm in Jagdalpur and at rest house Pahuna at 4 pm in Raipur on Tuesday.

The people who lost their lives during naxal attack were Mahendra Karma, Nandkumar Patel, Uday Mudliyar, Dinesh Patel, Yogendra Sharma, Allanoor, Bhagirathi Nag, Sadaram Nag, Abhishek Golechha, Manoj Kumar Joshi, Ganpat Nag, Gopi, Rajesh Chandrakar, Rajkumar Shrivastava, Prahlaad, Chandarram, Emanuel Kerkatta, Prateek Khalkhon, Praful Kumar Shukla, Ashok Kumar, Deepak Upadhyay, Tarun Deshmukh, Chandrahaas Dhruv, Rahul Pratap Singh, Pawan Kondara and Siyaram Singh.

The people who sustained injuries were Kawasi Lakhma, Harshad Mehta, Shivnarayan Dweivedi, Chouleshwar Chandrakar, Niketan Das, Malkeet Singh, Sattar Ali, Surendra Sharma, Vivek Bajpayee, Shivsingh Thakur, Rehan Khan, Raju, Chandrabhan, Roshan Dulhani, M Khan, Ke Bala, Ramavtar, Rajeev Narang, Fulodevi Netam, Mahadev, Falgumni Singh, Buti Kashyap, Dashram, Motilal, Mohammad Shafeeque, Umeram, Chandrashekhar Yadav, Chandulal, Dharmendra, Amar Singh, Lakhan Singh, Nandkishore, Kunjlal, Bal Singh, Mangesh Mandavi, Raju Prakash and Alok Singh.

PSC controversial, BJP govt responsible: Cong

Raipur, June 22, 2013

Congress on Saturday said BJP government was responsible for series of controversies in public service commission (PSC). “The commission has failed to conduct controversy-free exam ever since BJP came to power in state,” said Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla.

He said it was ruling party’s ten year-quiescence that deprived an entire generation of youth from government job that crossed maximum age limit to appear in the PSC exams.

“Controversies continue to haunt the commission right from appointment of chairman to members to selection of ineligible candidates to questions being asked out of syllabus in exams. The latest controversy is of scaling system which the PSC has adopted to benefit a few,” he pointed.

He alleged that the commission was doing injustice to other candidates on pretext of scaling system. He said the PSC implemented the system without understanding its principles. 

“The commission has failed to maintain transparency and sacrificed future of several talented students just to benefit a handful,” he charged.

“Last year, the government constituted a hearing committee to directly interfere into the commission’s affairs, however the panel failed to makeover PSC’s image. The government actually never intended to smoothen commission’s activities and bring transparency in it,” he said.

“The apprehensions of Congress that the government, by interfering into PSC’s activities, could affect exam results proved to be correct as controversy sparked off over implementation of scaling system to give numbers to the candidates,” he indicated.

He said for BJP government honesty, educational qualification and skilled administrative capability had never been parameters to select chairman and members of the commission, but it rather give preference to the criteria like loyalty towards a particular political party, an individual and political appeasement. “The commission has also become hub to rehabilitate favourite retired officials who fit in BJP’s criteria and hence is deeply mired in controversies,” he said.

Govt feigned to review security to save its face: Cong

Raipur, June 22, 2013

Congress on Saturday alleged that the government feigned to review security of vikas yatra and parivartan yatra to save its face. “By convening meeting of chief secretary and other officials to review security of the two yatras, chief minister Raman Singh is only trying to save his government’s face,” charged Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi.

He said there was no use of review meeting after May 25 incident that killed top-rung Congress leaders including PCC president Nandkumar Patel, veteran leader Vidya Charan Shukla, senior tribal leader Mahendra Karma, former MLA Uday Mudliyar and others. 

He said the two back-to-back Maoists’ attacks on June 20 and 21 were evident indicators that the government was not serious in dealing security issues. 

He indicated that while June 20 naxal attack was aimed to affected Keshkal bypoll, June 21 attack on convoy of youth Congress led by state YC vice president Deepak Mishra at Nnerli valley at Dantewada-Bacheli road was intended to frighten the principal opposition. 

He said acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey, party’s programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel and senior leader Satyanarayan Sharma too would have become victim of government’s political conspiracy if they had been party of parivartan yatra convoy on May 25, 2013.  

He said if the government had courage then it should clarify why it pulled paramilitary forces from Darbha region one week before May 25 incident when it had received inputs from intelligence regarding Maoists’ movement in the area.

He said the government should also tell the number of security personnel it had pressed for its vikas yatra and Congress parivartan yatra.