The '20 Saal Vinash Kaal’ chargesheet lists the failures of the alliance, particularly on migration, employment, corruption and social justice.
NEW DELHI/PATNA – Ahead of the assembly election, the Congress on Thursday brought out a chargesheet against the JDU-BJP government in Bihar. The ’20 Saal Vinash Kaal’ chargesheet lists the failures of the alliance, particularly on migration, employment, corruption and social justice.
The chargesheet in the form of a booklet spread over 44 page was released by senior party leaders at the Bihar Congress headquarters.
Those present included former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, AICC general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, senior leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Rajesh Ram, Shakeel Ahmad, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Amitabh Dubey and others.
Speaking on the occasion, Gehlot said that this election was not only going to decide the destiny of Bihar, but will also have an impact on the future of the country. He said the JDU-BJP had failed to provide good governance and without it, Bihar cannot move forward. He said Bihar has lagged behind in every sector during these two decades.
Gehlot pointed out that despite serious allegations of corruption against the deputy chief minister and some other ministers, no action was taken nor were they asked to resign. “No resignation has become the stated policy of the BJP under (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi”, he remarked.
The former Rajasthan chief minister said that the situation was critical in Bihar on the education and health fronts. He recalled how the Congress government had provided Rs 25 lakh health insurance cover to people in Rajasthan.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhupesh Baghel said that Bihar was at the bottom on all development indices. He said the JDU-BJP government had completely stopped the MGNREGA scheme that guaranteed 100 days employment to people. Similarly, he added, the plight of farmers was miserable, as they were not getting MSP on any of their crops. He said there had been no investment in industry, resulting in a lack of jobs in the state and forcing people to migrate. During the last twenty years, he said, Bihar has been pushed backwards in terms of economic progress.
Referring to the announcement of Rs 10,000 financial assistance to women, Baghel said, most of them did not receive anything, as they were heavily indebted due to micro-finance schemes. He added that the money being given is only a loan which will have to returned, and this scheme has been brought only to mislead people so that their attention is diverted from the issue of corruption.
Taking a dig at the claims of “double engine” government, the former Chhattisgarh chief minister remarked, “it is a trouble engine” as both the engine drivers, Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi, are not in a position to drive. He said, while Nitish is not keeping good health, Modi is well past 75 years, the age at which he forced some senior leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi to retire.
Spelling out the main agenda of the chargesheet, Jairam Ramesh said the main focus was on corruption, crime, unemployment, social justice, social harmony, social welfare and economic progress. After the chargesheet, the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) will soon be coming out with the election manifesto, he said.
Ramesh noted that migration and corruption were two important issues that had hit Bihar badly. He cited the CAG revelations saying that scams to the tune of Rs 71,000 crores had taken place in just ten departments.
Referring to the forced migration, he said, Bihar’s future lies not in migration, but in industrialisation, agriculture development, urbanisation, quality healthcare and better education facilities. He said Bihar needs a government which is accountable and transparent.
Quoting the NITI Ayog figures, he said, Bihar topped the country in terms of unemployment.
Pointing out the BJP’s opposition to social justice, he said, the BJP government had failed to include 65 percent reservation law, passed by Bihar Assembly during the Mahagathbandhan regime, in the ninth schedule of the Constitution to provide it constitutional protection.
He said, in comparison, the Congress government had 30 years ago provided constitutional protection to a similar Tamil Nadu law, which provides for 69 percent reservations. He said the BJP had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying it was opposed to the caste census.
