BJP to launch ‘Bhaat Pe Baat’ campaign on ‘Chher Chhera’
| Date :10-Jan-2020 |
Former Panchayat Minister Ajay Chandrakar addressing mediapersons. Former MLA Srichand Sundrani and BJP Legal Cell Co-ordinator Naresh Chandra Gupta look on.
Staff Reporter
RAIPUR
‘Chher Chhera Punni’ to begin today
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken the occasion of ‘Chher Chhera Punni’ (Crop Festival celebrated in Chhattisgarh), to expose the ruling Congress Government on its failure in paddy procurement and many other issues affecting farmers. BJP will be launching ‘Bhaat Pe Baat’ campaign from Friday on the occasion of ‘Chher Chhera’ festival. Addressing mediapersons on Thursday, former Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar said that the BJP is launching the statewide ‘Bhaat Pe Baat’ campaign from Friday to highlight the plight of farmers. He said that the campaign is being launched on the occasion of ‘Chher Chhera’ festival which is celebrated as crop festival by local people in Chhattisgarh. This campaign will be launched as ‘Jan Andolan’ in all 20,000 villages.
He said that ‘Chher Chhera’ festival is culture of Chhattisgarh, wherein, people generally donate food-grains. The ruling Congress Government has made farmers to cry by not procuring paddy as promised. The former Panchayat Minister leveled allegations that the State Government seems to have left with only one work i.e. to confiscate paddy of poor genuine farmers. He said that every day paddy of genuine farmers are being confiscated. Complete government machinery including the Police, Revenue Department, District Administration, Food Department, etc under supervision of departmental Principal Secretary are indulged in seizing paddy. Actions are being taken on verbal orders being issued by senior officials. It is first time in the history of Chhattisgarh that such activities are coming to fore.
Chandrakar said that the ruling Congress had promised to procure paddy at Rs 2,500 Minimum Support Price (MSP). However, instead it has commenced paddy procurement on MSP fixed by the Central Government. Meanwhile, the Congress Government has constituted a Cabinet Sub-committee to find out as to how the difference amount can be paid. Chandrakar said that people very well know what has happed to the sub-committee which was constituted to decide upon complete liquor ban in Chhattisgarh. One year has passed since the constitution of the committee and people are still waiting for its study-report while the State is well set to gain the status of ‘Uddta Chhattisgarh’ as it has left behind Punjab in liquor consumption, alleged Chandrakar. Similar, fate will be faced by the cabinet sub-committee constituted for finding ways to pay difference MSP amount, he added.
The former Panchayat Minister said that the ruling Congress Government is trying to raise sentimental issues but such issues will not heed to the problems being faced by farmers, who want real solutions. The former Minister said that during the last one year the ruling Congress has brought down the budget earmarked earlier for Panchayat department and it remains to be seem what it does in the forthcoming budget scheduled next month. Chandrakar further alleged that remaining funds from the Panchayat department has been diverted to Suraji Gaon (Narwa, Garuwa, Ghurwa and Badi) scheme but no department or official is ready to explain how the implementation of the said scheme is being carried out. He asked the government has initiated such a scheme for strengthening rural economy which doesn’t have any base.
He further alleged that the finance allowed to panchayats under 14th Finance Commission has also been diverted to Suraji Gaon Yojana. Alleging that the State Government is misusing the funds meant for Panchayat, Chandrakar said that BJP will be highlighting all these irregularities among the rural people while holding ‘Bhaat Pe Baat’ campaign which will be launched simultaneously in all 20,000 villages.