“Congress ruled MP for 50 years but left it as bimaaru state”: Rajnath Singh

Sagar (Madhya Pradesh) [India]: Coming out all guns blazing against the Congress, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the grand old party ruled Madhya Pradesh for over five decades but left it in a mess.

He added that under the Congress reign, Madhya Pradesh came to be known as a “Bimaaru Rajya” (sick state) as it did not work sincerely for the people.

Addressing a public meeting in the Sagar district of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the Rakshya Mantri said, “The Congress ruled the state for 50-55 years but left it as ‘bimaaru rajya’ (sick state). They did not work with sincerity for the state and the people. The BJP has been holding the administrative reins of the state for the last 17-18 years. In between, (Congress leader) Kamal Nath took oath as CM and ran the state for 1.5 years.

We did not have any qualms about the Congress forming the government in between but they should have, at least, not stopped the ongoing central schemes for the welfare of the people.”

On India’s rising stature on the global platform, Singh said earlier the international community would ignore what India said but not anymore.

“Earlier, when India used to say something on the international platform, the world didn’t pay attention taking us to be a weak country. Now, when India speaks on the global fora, the world listens,” the Raksha Mantri said.

Meanwhile, addressing an election rally at Seoni in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the Centre’s decision to extend the free ration scheme for the poor for five more years.

“I came out of poverty and don’t have to read books to know what poverty is. I can feel the pain of the poor. Therefore, your son, your brother, has decided that when the term of the ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’ ends in December, we will guarantee an extension of the free ration scheme for the next 5 years,” PM Modi said at Seoni on Sunday.

In a veiled attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Modi said the grand old party could never be trusted.

“Congress can never be trusted. Their slogan is ” Garib ke jeb saaf, kaam half se bhi half ” (Clean out the poor’s pocket, work less than half). They don’t work for development and people’s welfare but clean out pockets of the poor instead,” PM Modi said.

Elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly will be held in two phases, with the first phase of polling for 20 seats scheduled for November 7 and the remaining 70 seats to go for polling on November 17.

Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 17, Mizoram on November 7, Rajasthan on November 25 and Telangana on November 30.

The counting of votes is scheduled for December 3.