Thursday, August 29, 2013

56 lakh families in CG, govt made 66 lakh ration cards: Cong

Raipur, August 29, 2013

Congress on Thursday claimed that the BJP government had made 10 lakh additional ration cards to do corruption. “There are 56 lakh families in state, but the government made 66 lakh ration cards. Evidently, it did this to do grafts in public distribution system (PDS) and benefit BJPians,” said PCC spokesperson Mahendra Chhabda.

He said according to food and civil supplies department’s order dated March 30, 2013, the old ration cards were supposed to be replaced with new ones by April 30, 2013.

 “According to census 2011, the number of antyodaya, BPL and APL families was 10.48 lakh, 25.68 lakh and 19.49 lakh respectively. So, the total number of cardholders was 56.66 lakh. The BJP government set target of providing new ration cards to 56 lakh families, but in doing so, it made additional ten lakh cards – a glaring example of its intention to do grafts in PDS,” he said.

He alleged that the government cancelled old ration cards and issued new ones to take political mileage.

“It has happened in the past too. The government had revoked about 3.59 lakh fake ration cards of ineligible BPL families on July 10, 2011. These fake cardholders took benefit of the government scheme and received rice at fairly low rate for three years, i.e. from 2007-2010. This is how, the government incurred revenue loss to the tune of Rs 300 crore,” he said.

Ridiculing the ruling party for claiming to have taken Chhattisgarh to number one spot in PDS, he said instead the state’s PDS had become scam and graft hub.

He charged that corruption prevailed in all departments and schemes. He asked the government to instantly take measures to check grafts and irregularities in PDS by cancelling additional ten lakh ration cards.




Cong demands medical facility at Raipur railway station

Raipur, August 29, 2013

Congress has demanded medical facility at Raipur railway station. In this connection, a delegation of PCC jhuggi jhopdi cell met divisional railway manager (DRM) Rajiv Saxena and submitted a memorandum comprising a couple of other demands on Thursday.

Former president of PCC jhuggi jhopdi cell Sheikh Shakeel told Saxena that Raipur railway station lacked medical facility due to which seriously ill travellers face inconvenience. In some cases, the condition of travelling patients has deteriorated at Raipur railway station and they died eventually in the absence of instant medical care, he said.

The Congmen further asked Saxena to ensure provision of adequate security personnel in up and down trains to avert any untoward incident.

They pointed that the contractor, who has obtained space behind railway station in contract for car parking lot, was charging parking fee on two-wheelers too. Besides, they said, the station’s front side parking lot contractor was recovering excessive parking fee from the motorists and such practices should be stopped forthwith.

Expressing concern unhygienic condition in all platforms, they said high standards of sanitation should be maintained inside and outside railway station premises. 

They said railway ticket counter behind station at Gudhiyari road should remain open regularly for convenience of passengers.

Indicating that platforms lack adequate chairs, they said new chairs should quickly be put in every platform.
In addition, they demanded to name Durg-Ajmer express as Hazrat Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz express and a pantry in the train.

On the occasion, Shakeel was accompanied by Wahid Kanja, Virendra Dewangan, Ashok Sharma, Zafar Hussein, Baba Bhai, Matin Khan, Maqbool Ahmed, Mumtaz Hussein, Munna Bhai, Sheikh Saleem, etc.




Mahant appoints division-level spokespersons

Raipur, August 29, 2013

PCC president Charandas Mahant on Thursday appointed spokespersons for Bilaspur, Durg, Sarguja and Bastar divisions.

The spokespersons are – Bilaspur division- Arjun Tiwari (for Bilaspur, Janjgir, Mungeli districts), Prashant Mishra (for Korba, Koria, Raigarh districts), Durg division – Kamaljeet Singh (for Rajnandgaon, Kawardha districts), Devkumar Janghel (for Durg, Bemetara, Balod districts), Sarguja division – Shafi Ahmed (for Sarguja, Surajpur, Balrampur, Jashpur districts) and Bastar division – Vicky Sharma (for Jagdalpur, Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, Kondagaon districts) and Gajanand Jain (for Kanker, Narayanpur, Dhamtari and Gariyaband districts).

The PCC spokesperson Ghanshyam Raju Tiwari informed that all the appointments had been done considering upcoming assembly polls so that the party could expose ruling BJP’s scams and grafts and propagate Centre’s pubic-oriented schemes through different medium.



PCC office-bearers’ meet tomorrow

Raipur, August 29, 2013

Union minister of state for agriculture and food processing industry and state Congress president Charandas Mahant will convene significant meting of PCC office-bearers at Congress Bhawan at 11 am on August 31. On Friday, he will hold departmental meeting of Indira Gandhi Agriculture University’s vice chancellor and other officials at 10 am.


Cong’s NSGRC executive body announced

Raipur, August 29, 2013

PCC’s non-institutional sector grievance redressal cell (NSGRC) president Dilip Singh Chouhan announced cell’s executive body on Thursday. The cell comprises of 26 office-bearers including six vice presidents, nine general secretaries and 11 secretaries. Besides, he also announced 15 district heads of the cell.


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

AIIMS likely to start trauma unit, other facilities from Nov

Raipur, August 28, 2013

Tatibandh-based All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is likely to start trauma unit, operation theatres, wards with initial capacity of 150 beds as well as different types of pathological and other tests from November 2013.

According to information, the institute will also fill vacant posts of doctors, nurses and support medical staff in next two months. Notably, AIIMS started out patient department (OPD) from June 5, 2013 with consultation services in medicine, surgery, paediatrics, otolaryngology (ENT – ear, nose & throat), gynaecology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology and psychology departments. The OPD card to get registered costs just Rs 10 and its valid period is 12 months. Presently, over 100 patients reach AIIMS OPD everyday.

The doctors admitted that commencement of facilities wards, tests including sonography, x-ray, etc would increase patients’ visits in AIIMS. Presently, the patients undergo different test referred by doctors outside AIIMS campus. It is learnt that all the hi-tech test machines would be purchased in next 30-40 days.

The construction works of AIIMS complex has slowed down due to rains. This is the reason, the doctors said, they were unable to start trauma unit, wards, operation theatres and laboratories.



Counselling for vacant MBBS seats in AIIMS begins today

The counselling for 20 vacant MBBS seats in AIIMS will start from Thursday. Notably, medical council of India (MCI) has approved 100 MBBS seats for AIIMS Raipur. 

By far, 80 seats have been filled while counselling procedures for remaining 20 will start from Thursday. According to information, the institute has also started nursing course as after filling all 60 seats.


Congress poll panel meet on September 1

Singhdeo, Amitesh become committee’s permanently invited members

Raipur, August 28, 2013

Congress election committee’s second meeting will be held at New Delhi on September 1, 2013. According to information, the panel is likely to finalise candidates of 50 assembly seats. The PCC vice president and MLA TS Singhdeo and MLA Amitesh Shukla will also attend the meeting as they have been inducted in the panel as permanently invited members.

Since, majority of the party leaders are in favour of giving tickets to family members of deceased leaders Nandkumar Patel, Mahendra Karma and Uday Mudliyar, the panel will fix one name each for Kharsia, Dantewada and Rajnandgaon Vidhan Sabha areas.

Meanwhile, ticket aspirants continue to meet party’s state screening committee head CP Joshi regarding their candidate.

The members of the poll panel are AICC treasurer Motilal Vora, Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada and Rajya Sabha member Mohsina Kidwai, PCC president Charandas Mahant, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey, CLP deputy leader Rampukar Singh, Mohammad Akbar, Dhanendra Sahu, Bodhram Kanwar and Dhanesh Patila, Ajit Jogi and Parasram Bhardwaj.



Cong will not tolerate indiscipline: Baghel

Raipur, August 28, 2013

Once again, training his guns towards senior party MLA Ajit Jogi indirectly, PCC programme coordinator has said that indiscipline – be it of any type, would not be tolerated in the party. Baghel, who returned to Raipur after meeting party’s national vice president Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi on Wednesday, said he had briefed Gandhi about PCC’s ongoing and future events.

He said he also talked to Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada and AICC treasurer Motilal Vora during his Delhi visit.

Looking upbeat after his meeting with Gandhi, Baghel said he informed how the party was successfully taking out kalash yatra in state. He told that the party would also restart parivartan yatra in September 2013. He further informed Gandhi about party’s plan to organise felicitation programme for teachers on the occasion of teachers’ day on September 5 and a couple of others events for businessmen and minority communities in coming days.

When asked when exactly would the parivartan yatra be restarted, he said the date would be finalised once PCC president Charandas Mahant returns from New Delhi.

To a question regarding indiscipline, he said the party had talked about it and would keep a close tab on those who go astray. He indirectly cautioned Jogi and his supporters that the state unit was in no mood to brook indiscipline.

Notably, Baghel launched offensive against Jogi after the latter, in one of his solo-events, appealed to the locals of his assembly area Patan to reject him in polls. Jogi even projected his supporter as an apt candidate from Patan. Jogi did this to former PCC president Dhanendra Sahu and MLAs Rajkamal Singhania and Rudra Kumar Guru in their respective Vidhan Sabha areas too. Irked by Jogi’s activities Baghel, Sahu, Singhania and Rudra Kumar had complained against him to Gandhi recently.


Govt adopting double standard in CSS: Cong

Raipur, August 28, 2013

Congress has alleged that the government was adopting double standard in cash subsidy scheme (CSS).

“The ruling BJP has always opposed Centre’s CSS which directly benefits the beneficiaries. Ironically, the school education department did not hesitate in transferring cash in the bank accounts of those beneficiaries whom it was supposed to provide bicycles under Saraswati Cycle Yojna (SCY). Certainly, this happened because there was standoff between two powerful persons in government over division of graft fund under SCY,” said Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla on Wednesday.

He charged that the government was implementing CSS in those schemes in which likeliness of corruption is cipher while opposing cash transfer in those in which there are more chances of graft due to ample fund and large number of beneficiaries. 

He pointed that the government was refraining from implementing CSS in public distribution system (PDS) due to large-scale corruption in it.


Mahant to govt:Maintain transparency in PMGSY works

Raipur, August 28, 2013

PCC president Charandas Mahant has asked government to maintain transparency in upcoming road, bridge and culvert works to be done under Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) after Centre approved Rs 413 crore to Chhattisgarh on August 26. Of the approved fund, six roads, four bridges and five span bridges will be constructed in Mahant’s parliamentary constituency Korba at the cost of Rs 22.73 crore.


Govt making empty claims of development: Rohra

Raipur, August 28, 2013

Former PCC spokesperson Daulat Rohra on Wednesday lashed at BJP government for claiming to have done all-round development in state in last ten years and said the latter was deceiving people on the basis of fake figures. 

He said how could state witness development when crime rate had increased, females were not insecure and naxals had expanded their domain to capital city. 

He said the government could have averted Darbha incident if it had shown alertness after learning about Maoists’ movement in Jiram valley. 

He also flayed the government for not producing CD of narco test of Indira Priyadarshini Bank manager Umesh Sinha in the court. 

He alleged that the police were working as agents of BJP government.


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Cong poll manifesto panel meet held

Raipur, August 27, 2013

The second meeting of Congress election manifesto committee held at CLP leader Ravindra Choubey’s residence on Tuesday. The objective of the meeting was to take inputs from all the panel members pertaining to inclusion of significant points in party manifesto.

According to information, the party is planning to promise sops to government employees and common people in the form of new schemes after coming to power.

After the meeting, PCC president Charandas Mahant said panel on verge of finalising the manifesto. Choubey on the other hand said the manifesto would comprise sops for all categories including poor, farmer, businessmen, youth, women, middle class.

The panel members Dharmjeet Singh and Vani Rao were not present in the meeting. It is learnt that Singh was upset for not being informed in advance abut the panel meet. On the other hand, Singh was not updated about the meeting for his frequent attendance in party legislator’s Ajit Jogi’s programmes.

The meeting was scheduled to start at 2 pm but got delayed due to Mahant’s late arrival. Besides Mahant, Choubey and Akbar the meeting was attended by Bodhram Kanwar, Rampukar Singh, Premsai Singh, Shakrajeet Nayak, TS Singhdeo, PCC general secretary Subhash Sharma, etc.


NSUI gheraoes technical directorate

Demands action against Rungta Engineering College for deceiving students

Raipur, August 27, 2013

The NSUI on Tuesday gheraoed technical directorate and demanded action against RungtaEngineering College for deceiving students by recovering full amount against free laptops distributed by the government. In this connection, the NSUI members also submitted memorandum containing 12-point demand to director technical.

Later, the organisation’s Raipur North assembly general secretary Anis Nijami said the institute’s management was recovering Rs 39200 in four instalments of Rs 9800 each from the students to provide the laptops received from the under free distribution scheme.

He also made public the copies of receipts given by the management to students against submission of instalments for laptops.

The NSUI has demanded high-level probe into the matter. The NSUI also warned of launching offensive against the institute and technical directorate if students’ money would not be returned quickly.

On the occasion, Nijami was accompanied by Sheikh Musheer, Najim Ali, Kamran Ansari, Amar Kurre, Vipul Choubey, Hafeez Khan, Hameed Raza, etc.


Govt failed to destroy Maoists’ urban network: Cong

Raipur, August 27, 2013

In wake of recent arrest of two persons with dynamites and detonators in capital city, Congress on Tuesday said the arrest was an evident indicator of government’s failure in destroying urban network of Maoists. 

Alleging that the BJP government allowed naxals to ramify in state, PCC spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said the former actually uses the extremists to fulfill its political objectives and gives them protection as a quid pro quo.


Cong kalash yatra: Fourth phase to conclude on Sept 6

Raipur, August 27, 2013

Fourth phase of Congress kalash yatra will conclude on September 6, 2013. Notably, the yatra’s fourth phase started on August 24. According to information, the yatra reached Sukma (Konta VS area) on Tuesday. On August 29, the yatra will reach Jagdalpur VS area. 

The yatra will further cover Bastar VS area on August 30, Kondagaon VS area – August 31, Narayanpur – September 1, Farasgaon (Keshkal VS area) – September 2, Kanker VS area – September 3, Bhanupratappur, Antagarh and Daundilohara VS areas – September 4, Gunderdehi and Sanjari Balod VS areas – September 5 and Sihava Nagri VS area – September 6.


Food security bill passes in LS, Cong praises Sonia

Raipur, August 27, 2013

State Congress praised its national president Sonia Gandhi after Lok Sabha passed food security bill on Tuesday. The PCC president Charandas Mahant and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey said the passage of the bill indicates commitment of Congress-led UPA government towards common people.

They termed passage of food security bill as Centre’s significant achievement after it successfully implemented Right to Education (RTE) and Right to Information (RTI).

They said the UPA government fulfilled the promise it had made to people during 2009 general elections.

They said implementation of Food Security Act would address hunger problem of about 67% of the country’s population. Under the Act, the government will spend Rs 124723 crore and distribute 51.2 MT foodgrains to beneficiaries, they added.

They informed that the Centre had developed effective technology to address public grievances pertaining to Food Security Act.



DCC Raipur Urban takes out thanks rally

Raipur, Aug 27: Greeting passage of food security bill in the parliament, the DCC Raipur Urban unit took out a thanks rally from Congress Bhawan to Rajiv Gandhi chowk on Tuesday. The rally was participated by senior Congress leader Satyanarayan Sharma, Raipur North MLA Kuldeep Juneja, PCC general secretary Ramesh Warlyani, Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, Pramod Dubey, Vikas Upadhyay, etc.


Monday, August 26, 2013

Agri students stage dharna in favour of their demands

Raipur, August 26, 2013

Several agriculture students led by former state NSUI president Sanjeev Shukla staged massive dharna in favour of their demands at Budhapara-based dharna spot on Monday. After dharna, when they tried to proceed to Rajbhavan to submit memorandum to Governor pertaining to their demands, the police stopped and arrested them in the middle near Madhav Rao Sapre School.

Earlier, the agriculture students mustered at dharna spot at about 12 pm and aggressively sloganeered in favour of their demands including provision of at least three attempts for back paper as is the provision is engineering institutes, grants under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), etc.

Senior Congress MLA Ajit Jogi, who too reached dharna spot to support agriculture students, termed their demands as genuine. He said if the incumbent BJP government refuses to meet their demands, the Congress would do it after coming to power.

Shukla asked why the government did not include agriculture students in its laptop distribution programme when it was giving the benefit to students of all other disciplines.

He warned of demonstrating before IGAU if the demands of agriculture students would not be fulfilled coming days.

The Chhattisgarh Krishi Chhatra Sangh president Shailendra Shrivastava and vice president Manish Dubey demanded increase in number of seats in all departments of agriculture. “Including all departments, there are only 1400 seats in state while over 25000 students appear in pre agriculture test (PAT) every year. Considering large number of aspirants for agriculture, the government should increase seats,” they said.

Besides, Shukla, Shrivastava and Dubey, those who got arrested while heading towards Rajbhavan include Gulzeb Ahmed, Pradeep Sahu, Golu Gawli, Arun Singh, Shahbaz Hussein, Sheikh Asif, Amit Tiwari, Golu Tiwari, Monu Wallia, Vipin Mishra, etc.


Jogi files review petition against Nadda

Raipur, August 26, 2013

Senior Congress MLA Ajit Jogi filed review petition against Chhattisgarh BJP incharge JP Nadda before district and sessions court on Monday.

The court has fixed August 29 as date for Nadda to appear and produce logical documents in his defence. Earlier, Jogi had filed defamation suit against Nadda for alleging that he (Jogi) had nexus with Maoists. 

The suit was filed in the court of first class judicial magistrate Manish Dubey. After hearing, the court had rejected Jogi’s defamation suit.


Cong hails Centre nod of Rs 413 cr to CG under PMGSY

Raipur, August 26, 2013

Congress on Monday hailed Central approval of Rs 413 crore to Chhattisgarh under Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY). 

The PCC president Charandas Mahant and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey termed the approval as positive step of the UPA government towards development of the state. 

They informed a letter regarding the approval of fund had been sent by union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh to chief minister Raman Singh. 

The further informed that Central share in the approved fund would be Rs 356 crore. The fund would be used for construction of 132 roads (total length 429 km) and 118 bridges.


Cong condemns Shankar Nagar gangrape incident

Raipur, August 26, 2013

Congress on Monday strongly condemned gangrape incident in Shankar Nagar. PCC spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla said the incident happened just 24 hours after Bhilai gangrape incident – an evident indicator of government’s apathy towards women’s security in state.


Cong Seva Dal pays tribute to Hardikar

Raipur, August 26, 2013

Congress Seva Dal paid tribute to the organisation’s founder Dr Narayan Subba Rao Hardikar on the occasion of his death anniversary at Congress Bhawan on Monday.

In his address, state Seva Dal organiser Ashok Raj Ahuja appealed to organisation’s members to take pledge to remove incumbent BJP government in Vidhan Sabha elections.

Ahuja further shed light on Hardikar’s contributions to the organisation and country.

The tribute programme was also addressed by DCC Raipur Urban president Vikas Upadhyay.

The Seva Dal members present on the occasion were Shyam Bavne, Sayed Israel, Ramdayal Daharia, Narayan Patre, Fagu Ram Sonwani, Naveen Chaturvedi, Makhan Lal Vishwakarma, Kriparam Sahu, Shankaranand Bharti, Ashok Verma, etc.


CM worried of Centre’s public-oriented works: Cong

Raipur, August 26, 2013

Congress on Monday said chief minister Raman Singh was worried of Centre’s public-oriented works and hence trying to deceive people on the basis of fake figures of development. 

“The BJP has mentally conceded defeat in upcoming assembly and general elections with Congress-led UPA government bringing food security bill an announcing separate Telangana state,” said PCC spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi.


Saturday, August 24, 2013

Hariprasada visits Jogi

While Jogi’s supporters term it as Cong’s soft approach, opponents call it a farewell meeting

Raipur, August 24, 2013

AICC general secretary and Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada on Saturday evening met senior party MLA Ajit Jogi at latter’s residence and held talks for over thirty minutes. Later, while Jogi clarified that the meeting hovered around political talks, Hariprasada said the former would remain in Congress.

The meeting is said to be the result of exercise done by Jogi’s staunch supporters Anil Tah and Ramdayal Uike who on Saturday morning briefly talked to Hariprasada pertaining to breaking stalemate between former CM and rest of state Congress.

Jogi’s opponents claim that Tah and Uike persistently requested Hariprasada to shell out at least 15-30 minutes to visit former CM for significant talks. They said not too much should be read in Hariprasada-Jogi talks as it could be farewell meeting for the rebel party leader.

Contrarily, Jogi’s supporters say that the party had eventually buckled down and adopted softer approach towards their leader.

Earlier, after his arrival at Raipur and before leaving to Dantewada to participate in party’s kalash yatra, Hariprasada said Jogi is happy not upset. Parrying question whether Jogi would participate in yatra or not, Hariprasada said presence of Mahant and Choubey in the event was more important. Asked whether Jogi was invited in yatra or not, he said every leader had been assigned different task for yatra.


Cong core group to decide Jogi’s fate tomorrow

Rahul Gandhi, Janardan Dwivedi to attend meeting

Raipur, August 24, 2013

Chhattisgarh Congress coordination committee is likely to take final decision on senior party legislator Ajit Jogi in its meeting that would be held in presence of AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Janardan Dwivedi at New Delhi on August 26. The meeting becomes more significant at this juncture because the party is embroiled in infighting and confused over Jogi’s status for the past couple of months.

The core meeting will be attended by committee members AICC treasurer Motilal Vora, AICC general secretary and Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada, PCC president Charandas Mahant and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey.

According to information; Jogi, who too is a core group member, is likely to attend the meeting as he will fly to Delhi on Sunday evening or Monday (August 26) morning.

In the recent past, Jogi has frequently attacked fellow partymen during his solo-events. Moreover, he projected his local supporter as a potential poll candidate wherever he held public meetings. Meanwhile, Jogi’s supporters too expressed that they no more want to remain in Congress, for their leader not getting respect he deserves.

The PCC, instead of replying directly to Jogi, preferred to complain against him to the high command. First, Mahant submitted a comprehensive report about Jogi’s parallel party activities to senior leadership. Then, a couple of senior party leaders gave negative feedback about Jogi to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.



NSUI asks RSU to conduct students’ union polls

Raipur, August 24, 2013

NSUI on Saturday asked Pt Ravishankar Shukla University (RSU) administration to organise quickly students’ union polls. In this connection, large number of NSUI members led by their Raipur district vice presidents Akash Sharma and Bhavesh Shukla demonstrated aggressively before the varsity’s administrative block.

The NSUI also expressed its ire over hike in late fee for supplementary examinations.

“It is an irony that the late fee is more than actual fee to appear in supplementary exam. We have demanded from RSU to instantly rollback its decision of hike in late fee and give relief to the students,” said Sharma and Shukla after demonstration.

 The NSUI cautioned that it would gherao CM house and take out rally to Rajbhavan if the RSU would not take quick measures in favour of their demands.

During demonstration, the duo was accompanied Amit Sharma, Samir Bhatt, Abhay Thakur, Karan Sharma, Chandan Barik, Mukund Thakur, Himanshu Agrawal, Abhishek Thakur, Tushar Pandey, Dhananjay Tamrakar, Mahendra Nayak, Ankit, Neil, Vivek Chandravanshi, etc.


Caste politics: Now OBC backs Jogi

Raipur, August 23, 2013

With nearing elections, caste politics is brewing in state again. Thanks to senior Congress MLA Ajit Jogi who is persistently endeavouring to rekindle hopes of scheduled caste community that his party would take care of it if given mandate in upcoming polls. In doing so; to his surprise, Jogi found big chunk of supporters in the form of other backward class (OBC) – a delegation of which on Friday put trust on him by paying courtesy visit at his residence.

The delegation under the banner of Chhattisgarh Rajya Pichhda Varg Vikas Sangthan (CRPVVS) invited Jogi to attend series of OBC conference that would be organised in every district from first week of September 2013 from Balodabazar. On the occasion, Jogi said he had always struggled for OBC, provided it too remains conscious.

Notably, despite being tempted to distribute tickets on the basis of caste equilibrium, Congress decided to go with party vice president Rahul Gandhi’s formula to increase its vote percentage in every section.

The BJP, on the other hand, has evidently made it clear that it would never play caste politics during polls.

Earlier, the heads of different communities under CRPVVS held meetings at Motibagh, Collectorate garden and Neelkantheshwar Dham and expressed their concern over neglected condition of OBC.

The CRPVVS felt that ignoring Jogi could cost dear to Congress in assembly elections as its chances of victory would diminish.



PMC members held while going to gherao CM house

Raipur, August 23, 2013

Several Pradesh Mahila Congress (PMC) members were held near Shaheed Smarak Bhawan while they were going to gherao CM house in protest of rising women harassment cases in state on Friday. Before their arrest, the PMC members had minor clash with female cops while they tried to move past the barricades put near Shaheed Smarak Bhawan.

Earlier, the PMC organised its state-level conference at Shaheed Smarak Bhawan. Expressing her concern over recent women abuse cases in state, the organisation’s national president Anita Verma said females in Chhattisgarh were not secure under BJP government.

“There has been marked rise in rape cases in state in past nine and a half years. The females who have come from different parts of the state to gherao CM house indicate how infuriated they are with the government’s attitude towards their security,” she added.

She pointed that the rape victims run from pillar to post for justice as police never pose seriousness in trapping rapists.

“One such rape victim met me when I reached Raipur on August 22 evening. After the incident, when she reached police station to lodge complain, the cops refused to do so. Eventually, she reached CM house for help and the police registered FIR into her matter when CM’s spouse had to intervene. However, the culprit has not yet been arrested,” she said.

Addressing PMC members, PCC president Charandas Mahant said several women and girls were missing from state but the police could not find any clue about them. He said there had been persistent rise in women abuse cases in Chhattisgarh and the government had completely failed to provide them security.

CLP leader Ravindra Choubey said Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi wanted to increase women’s stake in politics. He informed that presently Congress had 38 female legislators. He appealed to the PMC members to gear up for upcoming assembly polls.

On the occasion, PMC president Ambika Markam, MLA Dr Renu Jogi, RMC mayor Kiranmayi Nayak and others were present.


Agrawal Samaj demands ticket for Cong business cell prez

From Raipur South assembly constituency

Raipur, August 23, 2013

A delegation of Agrawal Samaj, shopkeepers and Indira Bank Sangharsh Samiti (IBSS) on Friday met PCC chief Charandas Mahant and demanded ticket for Congress business cell president Kanhaiyya Agrawal from Raipur South assembly constituency.

The delegation said Agrawal would be most appropriate candidate from Raipur South Vidhan Sabha area as he had continuously struggled for people and raised public-related matters like shifting of toll plaza from Ring Road No 1 near Sundar Nagar. The delegation said Agrawal was also active in social and religious works.

Notably, Raipur South assembly constituency is BJP’s stronghold area and is being represented by MLA and PWD minister Brijmohan Agrawal. The Congress is eyeing to turn the table in its favour in Raipur South in upcoming elections.

The delegation was comprised of Home Appliance Vitarak Sangh president Neeraj Sankhla, general secretary of Agrawal Yuwa Manch Rajesh Kedia, IBSS representative Suresh Jain, Tulsi Janghel, Amar Gidwani, Anil Bajaj, Nitesh Agrawal, Purushottam Sharma, etc.


Friday, August 23, 2013

Cong in dilemma whether to expel or retain him

Raipur, August 22, 2013

In the backdrop of overt annoyance expressed by state Congress over party MLA Ajit Jogi’s rebel tone and some of the senior leaders complaining against him to high command, the head of party’s screening committee for Chhattisgarh CP Joshi has reportedly summoned Jogi to New Delhi.

The party supremo Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi too are likely to hold final talks with Jogi and take decision whether to expel or retain him.

The state unit has already indicated that it was in no mood to brook Jogi’s parallel party activities. For the past couple of days, Jogi is organising massive public rallies in stronghold Vidhan Sabha areas of his opponents in the party and projecting his supporters as potential poll candidates.

Astounded by his activities, the PCC is unable to convince the partymen that the job of shortlisting and finalising poll candidates lies in hands of poll committee and high command respectively. The PCC is also unable to concentrate on its anti-government campaigns due to Jogi’s programmes.

According to information, PCC president Charandas Mahant and Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada had requested party supremo to quickly take decision on Jogi so that the state unit could start its poll-oriented drives.

In their complain to high command, Jogi’s opponents have reportedly demanded his expulsion reasoning that his presence would only spur rebellion and weaken party’s victory chances in polls.

Jogi’s supporters, on the other hand, too feel that their boss should announce dissociation from Congress if the high command stalls decision on him. They claim that they would comfortably win at least 15-17 assembly seats under Jogi’s leadership as a non-Congress unit. They say that the fate of the party as well as theirs would be clear by next week as it would be final discussion between Jogi and senior party leadership at New Delhi in a day or two.



PMC to gherao CM house tomorrow

Raipur, August 22, 2013

In protest against women harassment cases, Pradesh Mahila Congress (PMC) had decided to gherao chief minister’s residence on Friday. “The state government has completely failed to check women abuse cases that have increased to manifold in last nine and a half years. Hence, we have decided to gherao CM house,” said Chhattisgarh Mahila Congress incharge Deepti Choudhary and PMC president Ambika Markam while talking to scribes at Congress Bhawan on Thursday.

The duo informed that organisation’s national president Anita Verma will also participate in CM house-gherao programme.

They alleged that government had ignored women’s security, especially in remote tribal belts.

“The law and order in the state is in haywire. Women are not safe under BJP regime. It is unfortunate that despite a slew of women abuse cases in the recent past, neither Chhattisgarh human rights commission nor scheduled tribe commission took cognisance in the matters,” the duo said.



Erroneous ration cards: Cong holds govt, admin responsible

Raipur, August 20, 2013

Congress has held state government and district administration responsible for distribution of erroneous ration cards. In this connection, the party leaders led by DCC Raipur Urban president Vikas Upadhyay met Raipur Collector Siddhartha Komal Pardeshi on Tuesday and asked him to quickly replace erroneous cards help centres.

Upadhyay told Pardeshi that the beneficiaries were unable to avail of the benefits under ration card due to missing details and mistakes. He pointed that vital information like house number and address were missing in several ration cards.

He said the old ration cardholders too were waiting to receive renewed cards for a long time.

He said the mistakes in ration cards should be removed by organising help centres in wards. He further said that ration cards should be distributed through local corporators.

He warned Pardeshi of gheraoing Collectorate and residences of ministers if erroneous cards would not be replaced soon.




On the occasion, Upadhyay was accompanied by Raipur North MLA Kuldeep Juneja, Ghanshyam Raju Tiwari, Sumit Das, Samir Akhtar, Satnam Panag, Ajay, Tarunesh Parihar, Sandeep Tiwari, Sirish Awasthi, Ashutosh Mishra, Wasim, Sanjay Pathak, etc. 

Cong pays tribute to Rajiv Gandhi

Raipur, August 20, 2013

Congress paid tribute to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his 69th birth anniversary at Congress Bhawan on Tuesday. The party leaders commemorated Gandhi by shedding light on his contributions to Congress and nation.

In his address, senior party leader Satyanarayan Sharma urged Congmen to shun factionalism and unite following Gandhi’s steps.

The programme attended by MLA Amitesh Shukla, MLA Kuldeep Juneja, Subhash Dhuppad, Ramesh Warlyani, Ashok Raj Ahuja, DCC Raipur Urban president Vikas Upadhyay, DCC Raipur Rural chief Pankaj Sharma, Ghanshyam Raju Tiwari, Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, Nivedita Chatterjee, Subhash Sharma, Jaswant Claudius, etc.
 


Bajaj exhorts Sindhi youth to join politics

Raipur, August 20, 2013

Politics is the only field where state’s Sindhi community lacks adequate representation. This is high time for Sindhi youth to come forward and join politics to serve the community, state and country. The words were expressed by BJP IT cell’s co-convenor and Bharatiya Sindhu Sabha’s (BSS) state general secretary Prakash Bajaj during recently held first state executive meeting of BSS at Raipur.

He said besides politics, Sindhi youth should also join administrative services to serve the nation.

The BSS state vice president Roopchand Bhimnani (from Rajnandgaon) too felt that Sindhi community needed to increase its presence in politics. In addition, he gave inputs to propagate Sindhi language through various modes.

Earlier, the BSS state president Dr KJ Lal appealed to the members to join hands to make efforts for development of Sindhi community.

The meeting was also addressed by ex-president of Sindhi Sahitya Academy Dr P Godheja, senior BSS member Asudram Vadhwani, BSS state vice president Puran Chabariya and BSS state women’s wing president Sunita Teerthani.

The meeting was attended by BSS executive members from Raipur, Durg, Bhilai, Rajnandgaon, Tilda, Bhatapara, Bilaspur, Pendra and Dhamtari.
 


Fourth phase of Cong kalash yatra to begin from Aug 24

Raipur, August 19, 2013

Fourth phase of Congress kalash yatra will commence from Dantewada on August 24 and conclude at Farasgaon (Keshkal Vidhan Sabha area) on September 2. Notably, the party’s first, second and third phase of kalah yatra were taken out from Rajim, Nandeli and Dongargarh respectively.

The party spokesperson Mahendra Chhabda informed that PCC president Charandas Mahant would kick start fourth phase of the yatra. On the occasion, CLP leader Ravindra Choubey, PCC programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel, senior party leaders and organisation’s office-bearers from Bastar division will also remain present.

From the second day onwards, the yatra would be led by party’s local leaders.

The yatra will begin from Ma Danteshwari temple Dantewada on August 24. On the following day, the yatra will cover Bhairamgarh and Bijapur areas under Bijapur VS area. On August 26, the yatra will cover Bastanar and Keshloor under Chitrakot VS area. Similarly, the yatra will reach Sukma (Konta VS area) on August 27, Jagdalpur VS area – August 29, Bastar VS area – August 30, Kondagaon VS area – August 31, Narayanpur – September 1 and Farasgaon (Keshkal VS area) – September 2.



BJP ignoring naxal issue: Jogi

Raipur, August 19, 2013

Senior Congress MLA Ajit Jogi on Monday alleged that naxalism ramified in state exponentially in past nine and a half years because BJP government never posed seriousness in dealing the issue.

He said the state government did not made proper use of Central funds to tackle Maoists. He pointed that the extremists, who were qualified to two districts during Congress regime, spread to nine districts during BJP’s two tenures.

Terming government’s vikas yatra based on empty claims he said the development never reached to practical footing in tribal regions like Bastar under former’s regime.

He said the ruling party completely failed to meet expectations of the people and hence the latter had decided to remove it from power in upcoming assembly polls.



Ration card: Cong to monitor distribution process

Raipur, August 19, 2013

Terming 10-day period to distribute ration cards to beneficiaries inadequate, Congress on Monday said it would closely monitor distribution procedures. The DCC Raipur Urban president Vikas Upadhyay informed that about 1.75 lakh ration cards would be distributed in Raipur city amidst October 20-30, 2013. “We have urged district administration to stretch card distribution period for convenience of beneficiaries,” he added. He said DCC Raipur Urban had also demanded from Collector to expedite card renewal process.


Cong to pay tribute to Rajiv Gandhi today

Raipur, August 19, 2013

Congress will pay tribute to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his 69th birth anniversary at morning in Congress Bhawan on Tuesday. DCC Raipur Urban and Rural presidents Vikas Upadhyay and Pankaj Sharma have jointly appealed to partymen to attend the tribute programme at large number.


Rice bowl becomes beggar’s bowl: Mahant

Raipur, August 16, 2013

 PCC president Charandas Mahant says Chhattisgarh – which was once known as rice bowl of the country, has now become beggar’s bowl under BJP’s regime. Mahant uttered these words while addressing Congress workers after hoisting tricolour at Congress Bhawan on the occasion of Independence Day on August 15.

Ridiculing government’s scheme of providing rice at low rate to BPL families, Mahant said people of Chhattisgarh believe in obtaining things by doing hard work, not gratis.
He said the corrupt and tyrant government sold lands, forests and water to outsiders. He said it was government’s fault that led to naxal attack on Congress parivartan yatra convoy on May 25, 2013 in Jiram valley in Darbha region.

He said sacrifice of deceased Congress leaders including Nandkumar Patel, Vidya Charan Shukla, Mahendra Karma, Uday Mudliyar and others would not go waste and pledged to bring change in state by defeating ruling BJP in upcoming assembly elections.

The flag hoisting programme was attended by Dhanendra Sahu, Kuldeep Juneja, Satyanarayan Sharma, Subash Sharma, Iqbal Ahmed Rizvi, Vikas Upadhyay, Pankaj Sharma, Ghanshyam Raju Tiwari, Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, Mahendra ChhabdaMA Iqbal and large number of Congress workers.



Poll candidate: Balodabazar Congmen for priority to locals

Raipur, August 16, 2013

Claims and objection over ticket distribution in Congress began even before finalisation of candidates with partymen from Balodabazar assembly constituency protesting candidature of Rajendra Tiwari from the area.

In this connection, DCC Balodabazar president Janakram Verma, Sunil Maheshwari, Vidya Bhushan Shukla, Rajesh Nayak, Purushottam Sahu, Seema Verma, Tulsi Verma, Sharda Soni and Shailesh Nitin Trivedi met PCC president Charandas Mahant and CLP leader Ravindra Choubey separately on Friday and said ticket should be given to a local candidate, not an outsider like Rajendra Tiwari.

In 2008 VS polls, two times MLA from Congress Ganesh Shankar Bajpayee lost to BJP candidate Laxmi Baghel by 5182 votes in Balodabazar VS area.

Notably, state Congress election committee has received about 2500 applications for 90 Vidhan Sabha seats. Majority of the applications belong to locals who claim to have done ample works in their area in past five years or so to be projected as poll candidate. Meanwhile, there are slew of applicants who have shown interest in contesting polls from other VS areas than theirs.

The poll committee, in its recent first meeting, has already decided to send three to five names from each VS area to high command so that appropriate candidate could easily be selected.

Now, in wake of protest from Balodabazar Congmen, the party fears that it would see the repeat of such episodes in future when tickets would be given to outsiders in other VS areas.

Upadhyay holds talks to office-bearers of two blocks

Raipur, August 16, 2013

DCC Raipur Urban president Vikas Upadhyay convened meetings of office-bearers of Sadar Bazar and Purani Basti BCCs in their respective block offices on Friday.

After reviewing activities of the blocks, he directed the office-bearers to reach those wards through Congress’ ghar-ghar chalo, har ghar chalo campaign (door-to-door drive) which were not covered earlier. Notably, the party had stopped the drive after Darbha incident.

Upadhyay further asked the office-bearers to commence party’s BJP hatao, Chhattisgarh bachao (remove BJP, save Chhattisgarh) campaign in every ward. This drive was launched by the party on August 9.

He said soon DCC Raipur Urban would start ‘ward chalo campaign’ in 70 capital city’s wards. Under the drive, the party will hoist Congress flag in every ward. 

The meeting was attended by Purani Basti block head Rajesh Singh Thakur, Sadar Bazar block head Mamta Rai, Haider Ali, Sardar Singh Thakur, Ganga Yadav, Sunita Sharma, Meena Laxmi Naidu, Rasheed Khan, Anamika Sahu, Satish Sahu, Faheem Khan, Jai Prakash Sahu, Naveen Chandrakar, etc.


Cong ex-servicemen cell’s conference tomorrow

Raipur, August 16, 2013

PCC’s ex-servicemen cell will organise a day-long conference at Congress Bhawan on August 18. PCC president Charandas Mahant will be chief guest of the conference while AICC secretary and cell’s national president Major Vedprakash and former chief Captain Praveen Davar will be special guests. The cell’s state president Jeevan Lal Sahu has appealed all the office-bearers of the organisation and members to remain present attend the conference in large number.


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Only Sonia-Rahul express will in run in CG: Mahant

Raipur, August 14, 2013

Reacting to senior Congress MLA Ajit Jogi’s statement that only Jogi express will run in Chhattisgarh, PCC president Charandas Mahant says there is no place for any type express in state other than Sonia-Rahul express. Mahant, who reached Raipur on Wednesday from New Delhi, clearly hinted that the state Congress was in no mood to tolerate Jogi’s rebel tone and would reply him equally blatantly.

On Jogi’s parallel activities – an evident indicator that the party is polarised, Mahant said the high command had assigned him task of keeping the party united and he was doing that on priority basis.

Asked why Jogi was missing from party’s Rajnandgaon and Ahiwara programmes, Mahant clarified that the former CM was in New Delhi during Rajnandgaon event while he could not attend Ahiwara conference due to his prescheduled programmes.

On resentment between local partymen regarding Jogi projecting his supporters as poll candidates during his events, Mahant admitted that he had received some complaints against senior legislator from the locals and would surely look into the matter.

On possibility of his meeting with Jogi, the PCC chief said he had earlier sought Jogi’s appointment but the latter expressed his unavailability. 


Congmen faced identity crisis sans party: Choubey

CLP leader Ravindra Choubey too trained his guns towards Jogi said by saying that the Congmen faced identity crisis sans party. “The Congress leaders should not forget that they are nothing without party,” he said categorically on Wednesday.

On Jogi’s intense tours programmes in different parts of state, he said since all events were being conducted under Congress banner, nobody should deduce any hidden inference from his activities.


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