Kamal Nath kicks off MP campaign, promises free power to farmers

  • 10/06/2008

  • Indian Express (New Delhi)

Attacking the BJP for not fulfilling poll promises, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath on Monday announced free electricity to farmers if the Congress came to power in Madhya Pradesh. "If the Congress comes back to power in the coming Assembly polls, it will give free power to farmers for five horse power pumps and also single-point power connections to SC/ST and those living below the poverty line,' Nath told reporters before addressing a party rally here. When asked from where the party would manage funds to provide free power to the farmers and others, he said it would be done by plugging the ongoing corruption in the present BJP Government in the state. The Congress Government would constitute a tribunal to dispose of the cases at the earliest to finalise the ongoing power-related cases against people, he said. Alleging that the BJP failed to fulfil all its promises made on the issue of power, roads and employment, hesaid time had come for them to answer to the people on the issue. The Union minister said despite tall claims of the BJP Government that MOUs worth over Rs 2 lakh crore were inked for setting up industries in the state, no investment was visible on the ground. Nath said whenever he met industrialists on the issue, they always complained of lack of infrastructure in the state, especially power. The issues of power and roads on the basis of which the BJP formed government in the state were still haunting the party as it had not done anything on the issue. Corruption was at its peak and the ministers and leaders were busy in extracting commissions from the contractors, he alleged. Later, addressing a public meeting, Nath said if the Congress came back to power in the state then a new history of development and progress would be written. The recent resignation of health minister Ajay Vishnoi, who belongs to Jabalpur, gave Nath the handle to attack the BJP Government on corruption front. He alleged there was rampant corruption in the Government and said more ministers should have resigned because cases were pending against them before the Lokayukta. Addressing the meeting, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President Suresh Pachouri alleged large-scale irregularities were committed in the electoral rolls by the BJP workers and urged the Congressmen to identify the bogus voters and ensure that right names were entered into the rolls. The presence of Nath and Pachouri saw the local Congress activists bury their differences and put up an impressive show. A rally was taken out from the Police Ground that culminated in a public meeting at Supermarket, a popular venue. The party used a chopper to shower petals on the rally. Jabalpur is a gateway to Mahakaushal region, which includes Chhindwara, the constituency represented by Nath in Parliament. Since it was Nath's first-ever visit to Jabalpur after joining the Union ministry, his supporters put up arches and hoardings at several places.