Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel termed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government as “anti-farmers and anti-poor” after the Central government stopped allocation of food grains to 128 Daal-Bhaat Centres in Chhattisgarh under “Welfare Institutions and Hostels Scheme” from April 1st onwards.

 

 

Chief Minister and CPCC President Bhupesh Baghel talking to mediapersons at Rajiv Bhawan on Friday evening. Cabinet Minister Mohammad Akbar looks on. 

 

Talking to mediapersons at state party office Rajiv Bhawan here on Friday evening, Baghel, who is also the President of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC), categorically stated that 128 Daal-Bhaat Centres covered under the scheme, would be forced for closure from April 1 since they will be devoid of food grains. “Model code of conduct has been effective due to parliamentary elections in the state and thus the Chhattisgarh government is unable to take any policy decision on this matter,” he clarified.

 

According to the Chief Minister, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India issued an order on March 19 to this effect. As per the order, now, food grains will only be allocated to welfare institutions and SC/ST/OBC Hostels that are either owned or run by States, Union Territories and Administrative Ministries of Government of India from April 1.

 

Baghel claimed that the BJP, during 2013 assembly elections, had announced to give Rs 2,100 minimum support price (MSP) per quintal and Rs 300 per quintal bonus. But when Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government came to power in 2014, the Union government decided that if a State announces bonus over and above MSP, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) would not take part in MSP operations in the State concerned and State agencies will have to mobilise resources and take care of entire MSP operations in the State on their own including the arrangements to be made for storage of procured food grains. BJP only makes false promises to cheat farmers during the elections, Baghel alleged.The Chief Minister appealed to the people of the country not to vote for the BJP in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Reacting to senior BJP leader Brijmohan Agrawal’s statement alleging Congress government as associates of Naxalies, Baghel said that he was surprised to hear such comment from a senior party leader Brijmohan Agrawal, which is uncalled for and wayward. “For the reasons, the 2013 Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack took place during the BJP regime, in which least 25 Congress frontline Congress leaders were massacred,” Baghel said while reacting to the former BJP Minister’s statement. When asked about solution to the Naxal menace, the Chief Minister asserted that the State government was all open for holding dialogues with the insurgents, but they should give up on armed violence and bloody path they are presently treading on. The Chief Minister reinforced his statement by assuring that there will be no injustice with the tribal populace of Chhattisgarh during Congress rule in the state.

 

Responding to another query on Dr Punit Gupta, son-in-law of former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, Bhupesh Baghel suggested that he should surrender at the earliest and cooperate with the police in the investigation. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Mohammad Akbar, MLA Brihaspati Singh, and other leaders were present along with the Chief Minister during press conference.