War of words . MP Elections: BJP & Congress engage in 'question war' on unfulfilled poll promises

With the Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh due this year-end, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state Congress president Kamal Nath have been engaged in a bitter 'question war' for a fortnight, seeking to know from each other about the "unfulfilled" poll promises.

The opposition Congress, has started making a slew of promises, including farm loan waiver and implementation of the old pension scheme.

However, CM Chouhan, who has been posing questions to the opposition party almost every day, recently told media persons, “The Congress has started making false promises again. It was in power for 15 months and had issued a 973-point manifesto." "They have not fulfilled a single promise. At that time, the Bharatiya Janata Party was in opposition. Now, we are asking questions based on those false promises. We are also asking questions as the Congress has started coming up with false promises again, eyeing the polls,” the BJP leader said.

Congress has promised to give bonuses on several crops including wheat, gram, mustard and rice. Did they give it on any crop during "sava saal" (15-month rule)? Chouhan asked.

Congress counters

Countering him, former CM Kamal Nath said, “Heard that Shivraj ji is asking questions from me about which promises we have fulfilled and which we have not. Only a person with an unstable mind can ask such questions. It is not the chief minister's job to ask questions but to implement public welfare schemes. If our announcements were in public interest, then he should implement them.”

However, Chouhan hit back saying, “It is a matter of shame that instead of replying to the question, they are responding in a street-type language. If you have fulfilled the promises, then give an answer. Why are you feeling pinched?"

Chouhan said when he put up a query to Nath, the latter got disturbed and asked whether a CM can ask questions.

“You (Nath) continue to mislead people, keep saying false things and expect us not to ask questions. Kamal Nathji tum idhar-udhar ki baat mat karo. Yeh batao ki kafila luta kyun hai" (don't beat around the bush, but give concrete answers), he said.

A bundle of lies

Chouhan, who has been targeting the Congress by asking about various schemes, a few days back said he has so far asked 10 questions from Nath on the basis of the opposition party's 2018 poll manifesto, which the CM termed as “a bundle of lies".

One day, when the CM did not pose any query, Nath said, "The CM's job is to work for the people’s welfare. Today when no question came from your end till sunset, I realised that finally better sense prevailed on you."

Nath also highlighted that the CM should better read their 2018 poll manifesto carefully and fulfil promises made to the people. He should answer questions raised by youth, farmers, labourers, unemployed people, and women and try to fulfil the promises made to them before the government's tenure ends, he said.

Hath Se Hath Jodo

In between, Chouhan also took a dig at the Congress's political matters, especially on the issue of the party's chief ministerial face and described the opposition party's “Hath Se Hath Jodo" campaign as “Kamal Nath se peecha chudao abhiyan” (campaign to get rid of Nath).

The CM also targeted the Congress for holding its list of office-bearers after announcing their names in view of the alleged differences among the opposition party leaders, saying the entire opposition party is on “hold” under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Nath.

Meanwhile, Nath has asked questions about promises made by the government on doubling the number of 108 ambulances, ensuring 100 per cent purchase of lentil crops, compensation to farmers for an unexpected calamity, and also sought to know why farmers were getting notices for returning the money they received under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi.

"Why was the bonus of Rs 160 on wheat crops stopped and why are you so envious of farmers? The BJP promised to ensure income generation for at least one family member but has not fulfilled it, which resulted in more than 30 lakh registered unemployed persons in the state. It also promised to set up Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Startup Fund with Rs 100 crore, among others," Nath said.

He claimed only six months more are left of the "Chouhan-led film" (government) and after that Madhya Pradesh will tread on the path of truth to make it a "golden state".

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