Jabalpur, June 12 (FN Bureau) Blowing the Congress’ Assembly election bugle in Madhya Pradesh, party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday fired a broadside at the BJP by alleging that those who believe in power, turn a deaf ear to the populace. Addressing a massive gathering at the Martyrs’ Memorial in this city, which is the largest within Mahakoshal region, the visiting leader said, “Even as prices, unemployment, atrocities and schism are spiralling; it is being said that a golden period is being witnessed in the country. High prices are vexing not only womenfolk but also peasants and other segments. Despite government departments having vacant posts, recruitment is not taking place and question papers are leaked. Why are announcements and promises made during election time alone? Those making such pronouncements even emerge victorious in polls but then forget their own words.
The plight of tribal folk is evident in Madhya Pradesh; erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi accomplished a tremendous quantum of work for the adivasi community. BJP leaders constituted a dispensation in Madhya Pradesh by resorting to intrigue and subsequently did naught for the populace. In approximately 220 months of its tenure, the BJP perpetrated about 225 scams within this state. BJP bigwigs did not spare even Mother Narmada and Ujjain’s Mahakal Lok; a scam was committed vis-a-vis the latter. For the past 18 years, injustice is being meted out to Madhya Pradesh’s populace; promises remain unfulfilled and wealth is crushing the mandate.”She commenced her 37-minute-long speech with the words “Har Har Narmade!” Speaking on the occasion, erstwhile chief minister Kamal Nath said, “The BJP makes religion a subject of propaganda. I cannot defeat Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in ‘artistry’, ‘announcements’, etc but shall vanquish him vis-à-vis truth.” Prior to the public meeting, Mrs Priyanka reached the bank of the holy Narmada at Gwarighat and offered worship to the state’s lifeline river. Flanked by Congress state President Nath, Rajya Sabha Member Vivek Krishna Tankha and other leaders, she took a resolve against pollution of the Narmada River.