Rift out in open, Jyotiraditya Scindia warns Kamal Nath government of stir

BHOPAL: AICC general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia took his party by surprise by vowing to hit the streets if promises made to guest teachers in the Congress Vachan Patra aren’t fulfilled. Chief minister Kamal Nath, who is in Delhi, shot back that manifesto is “for five years, not five months”.

Scindia — who has often been openly critical of the Nath government, targeting it on crop loss survey and farm loan waiver earlier — expressed solidarity with contract teachers, who are agitating against the state government for over 60 days, demanding regularization.

Addressing a rally in Niwadi district of MP on Thursday, Scindia said: “Your demand was included in the Congress manifesto. And the manifesto is sacred text for us. If all the promises in the manifesto are not fulfilled, do not think you are alone. Jyotiraditya Scindia will also hit the streets with you.” Asking the protesters to be a little patient, he added: “It has been a year for the government. Teachers have to be a little patient. Our turn will come, and if not, then I assure you that I will be your shield and sword.”
In Delhi, when mediapersons asked CM Nath about Scindia’s comment, he said: “The manifesto is for five years. It’s not for five months.”

Nath met AICC chief Sonia Gandhi in the evening. Agencies quoted him as saying: “I have met the party president and discussed how much the government in the state has been able to fulfil the Vachan Patra (manifesto).” CM Nath’s spokesperson in Pradesh Congress, Narendra Saluja said he spoke to the party president on organizational issues. “He also apprised her on the steps taken by his government for public welfare and promises made to people of Madhya Pradesh in Vachan Patra that have been fulfilled. He also delivered a report card of his government to the party president,” said Saluja.

Cooperatives and GAD minister Govind Singh urged Scindia “not to hit the road”. “Jyotiraditya Scindia is a state leader and there is no need for him to do so. I suggest Scindia should discuss the issue with the chief minister in view of the financial situation of the state,” he told mediapersons in Bhopal, adding that guest teachers were “not appointed to be made regular”. “It was a temporary post. They can be regularized only if they follow the rules,” he said.

Scindia has been touring parts of the state in the last 24 hours, addressing rallies organized by supporters. On Thursday, he had called the Delhi poll rout “very, very disappointing”, and suggested that Congress needs to “reinvent itself with new ideology”. After Scindia lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Guna, his supporters have been demanding that he be appointed PCC chief, a post that AICC has asked Nath to hold even after he became chief minister.

Public is god, can bring a neta to the ground: Scindia
Bhopal: Almost 10 months after he lost the Guna Lok Sabha seat, AICC general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed his feelings on his defeat. At a rally organized by his supporters in Ashoknagar, MP, on Friday, Scindia said “Janata (public) as the biggest god”. “The public can make a common man a leader, and bring a neta to the ground. I have this realization as I stand on the ground. I want to remain grounded, remain close to the roots, as well as to stay in your heart,” he said.