Madhya Pradesh Congress seeks white paper on Narmada Sewa Yatra

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Congress on Tuesday demanded a white paper on Narmada Sewa Yatra “to bring out the truth” about funds utilised in the much-hyped campaign.

The party will also draw Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention over illegal mining rampant on the banks of Narmada river. Modi is expected to visit Amarkantak at the culmination of the yatra next month. “BJP is misusing government machinery and public funds in Narmada Sewa Yatra, which is purely a political campaign in view of the assembly elections slated for 2018. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan should bring out a white paper on the funds utilised in the yatra and status of decisions taken, from planting saplings to removing encroachments from the banks of river Narmada,” said state Congress president Arun Yadav while talking to reporters at his official residence.

Yadav said the Congress will draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards illegal mining on the bank of river Narmada and activities of land mafia. He said if voted to power, the Congress will also conduct an audit of the ambitious campaign. “We will apprise Modi about misuse of public money by the BJP government in Narmada Yatra through a letter. We have details of illegal mining on the banks of Narmada river and activities of land mafia in the state, which we will share with the Prime Minister before his Amarkantak visit on May 15,” he said.
Replying to a query on Congress campaign to counter Narmada Yatra, Yadav said the Congress had organised Jan Vishwas Padyatra in the recent past and would again launch a Parivartan Yatra to expose the BJP’s tall claims on development and public welfare. On BJP’s attack on Scindia, Yadav said the BJP was trying to avenge the humiliating defeat in Ater bypoll. The leaders, including chief minister, were levelling personal allegations against Scindia, which were baseless, he added.

Meanwhile, the Congress will organise ‘chaupal’ (public meeting) in Budhni, chief minister Chouhan’s assembly constituency, to take stock of public grievances and steps taken by the BJP government, said leader of opposition Ajay Singh. He said Congress state president and MLAs will attend the chaupal.