Baghel slams PM for lying, Rahul attacks Modi for not answering questions on Adani, caste census
Rahul claims his suspension from the House of Representatives was a result of his inquiries into Adani and his acquisition of airports, ports, silos, and other infrastructure-related projects.
On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi attempted to undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi's major campaign strategy against the Congress by referring to Madhya Pradesh as the "epicentre" of corruption.
"Such corruption has never been seen in a state in the nation. The worst corruption in the nation is concentrated in Madhya Pradesh. Even cash intended for children have been stolen, claimed Rahul in Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh, where elections are imminent.
"There were frauds in both the school clothes and the noon meal program. The Vyapam (admission and recruitment exam) scam is well known to everyone. In Ujjain, we have observed inconsistencies with the Mahakal Corridor project. Seats for MBBS were filled. Paper spills are now frequent.
Former chief minister of the Congress Kamal Nath claimed that Madhya Pradesh has become "Chaupat Pradesh" (Ruined State) as a result of the BJP's corrupt administration. He said that a 50% commission had become the standard by referencing a "rate card" of corruption.
"Even someone with 50 acres of land can purchase a BPL card here. To establish the government, they stole my MLAs. Save Madhya Pradesh now, declared Nath.
Two pillars supported the Congress's electoral success in Karnataka earlier this year: exposing the corruption of the state BJP government with a focus on a "40% commission" system and providing assurances regarding welfare programs. Similar strategies have been developed by the party for Madhya Pradesh, with Rahul frequently calling voters' attention to Karnataka, where all of the pledges have been met.
However, the Prime Minister has not been discouraged from continuing with his all-weather policy of targeting the Congress and the Opposition alliance INDIA over corruption notwithstanding the unfavorable view of Shivraj Singh Chouhan's BJP government in Madhya Pradesh.
Even in Karnataka, Modi criticized the Congress of corruption without mentioning the performance of the BJP government there, drawing accusations of hypocrisy over bribery.
In poll-bound Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur, too, Modi said that Bhupesh Baghel's Congress government had drenched every programme in corruption, not even sparing food or cow dung.
"Because I am seated there at the Center, they are a little frightened. They'll go berserk if they triumph once more. Will Chhattisgarh benefit at all from their return? said he.
Playing up the "double engine government" platform despite the fact that the Manipur unrest had destroyed it, Modi warned Chhattisgarh voters that electing a Congress government would hinder the state's development.
He claimed that the Chhattisgarh government had thwarted all efforts by the Centre to aid the residents of the state and had criticized it for child malnutrition. He appeared to have forgotten how poorly malnutrition has been performing in Gujarat, his native state.
Modi emphasized that he had given Chhattisgarh the Vande Bharat train.
Modi also reaffirmed his assertion that the state of Chhattisgarh was receiving all of the paddy while the federal government was taking credit for it; the state administration has refuted this claim.
Paddy is purchased by the Chhattisgarh government for Rs 2,500 per quintal, which is Rs 600 more than the minimum support price established by the Center.
The state purchased 80.38 lakh million tonnes of paddy in 2018–19, while the Center only lifted 23 lakh million tonnes. The state purchased 107 lakh million tonnes in 2022–23 while the center only acquired 36.12 lakh million tonnes.
Baghel charged the Prime Minister with lying.
Rahul's repeated inquiries about Adani and demand for a caste census went unanswered by Modi. Rahul claimed on Saturday that his exclusion from the House of Representatives was a result of his inquiries into Adani and his acquisition of airports, ports, silos, and other infrastructure-related projects.
A caste census, he contended, was the first step toward the emancipation of underprivileged populations, and he emphasized the need for adequate representation and participation of all social classes.
