BJP is issue-less party: Ramesh

 

 

 

 

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary, Jairam Ramesh, launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of employing divisive tactics in Chhattisgarh for political gains in the upcoming Assembly polls. Ramesh made these remarks during a media interaction at the state Congress party office, Rajiv Bhawan, in State Capital. Ramesh stated, “Our guarantees and promises are focused on local issues in Chhattisgarh assembly polls. We are reflecting the expectations of the people of Chhattisgarh through our campaign. But BJP’s strategy is only of polarisation of votes in the assembly polls. The BJP has no other issues except polarisation and it is an issue-less party in Chhattisgarh.”

 

AICC General Secretary also alleged that PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other prominent BJP leaders are visiting Chhattisgarh to promote polarisation, and their speeches are expected to be polarising. Ramesh further criticised the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Chhattisgarh, saying, “Prime Minister Modi will talk about the world and criticise the Congress, but he cannot tell the truth even by mistake. What was not said on Nagarnar Steel Plant? For the last two and a half years, from October 2020, the Modi Government has been engaged in selling the Nagarnar Steel Plant. Today, the BJP leaders are saying that privatisation will not happen.” The Congress leader raised concerns about the privatisation of public property and suggested that if the Modi government gets the chance, it might privatise the Bhilai Steel Plant as well.

 

Regarding the cancellation of trains in Chhattisgarh, Ramesh attributed it to the policies of the BJP Government at the Centre, emphasising the adverse impact on the people of State. He noted that priority is given to trains carrying coal, leading to a significant reduction in rail services. Ramesh also highlighted Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s efforts to address Chhattisgarh’s issues, including writing to the Prime Minister to prevent discrimination against the State. He mentioned several promises made by the Congress party in the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, such as guarantees in health, education, agriculture, and women’s welfare. One of these promises, the purchase of 20 quintals of paddy per acre for farmers, has already been fulfilled. In a bid to gain the support of the electorate, Ramesh reaffirmed that the price of gas cylinders, currently priced at Rs 989, will be reduced by Rs 500 if the Congress government is elected in the state, and this subsidy will be directly transferred to women’s accounts.

 

He labelled the Congress’ pledge of free education from KG to PG as a ‘progressive and revolutionary step.’ Responding to a query about the Naxal issue, the AICC General Secretary acknowledged the State Government’s role in reducing Naxal incidents in Chhattisgarh. During the press conference, Deputy Leader of Congress party in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari, AICC Spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh, AICC Media Coordinator Radhika Khera, State Congress Media Chief Sushil Anand Shukla, and other Congress leaders were also present.