Scindia tears into MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, says govt corrupt

The Congress MP attacked the Madhya Pradesh government saying the farmers were getting low price for their produce and there were no jobs for the youth.

Senior Congress leader and newly appointed Madhya Pradesh election campaign committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia launched a scathing attack on the BJP and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday, signalling the launch of the party’s campaign for the assembly polls this year.

Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia talking to the media in New Delhi. (HT File Photo)

The ‘parivartan’ rally is the Congress’s first major event after Kamal Nath took over as the president of the state unit. Scindia also held a road show from Mahakaal temple, where he offered prayers with his family, to the rally venue on Agar road, 5km away. Referring to the death of five farmers in police firing in Mandsaur in June 2017, Scindia said farmers were committing suicide and were being shot when they asked for fair remuneration.

He added that the government’s Bhavantar scheme has failed and farmers were getting lower price for their produce. “Tur was being sold at ₹7,000 per quintal and now it is ₹5,500, while soybean is down to ₹1,800 from ₹2,200- ₹2500 per quintal,” he said, adding that if Congress came to power, it would restart cash payments to farmers in the mandis.

State BJP vice-president Vijesh Lunawat said in response, “Charges levelled by Jyotiraditya Scindia against the government are the same old charges Congress leaders have been hurling out of frustration as they are out of power for the past 15 years. Their only aim is to tarnish the image of CM Shivraj Chouhan.”