A day after Vishnu Deo Sai was sworn in, the new Chhattisgarh Chief Minister held the first cabinet meeting Thursday and announced that the proposal to implement Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY) for 18 lakh poor people has been cleared. After the meeting, Sai addressed a press conference with two deputy CMs – Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, and at the outset thanked voters for showing trust in them “beyond our imagination”. “We will fulfil all Modi’s guarantees,” he said and underlined that the previous government had failed to implement the scheme. “18 lakh poor did not get PM Awas Yojna. In our first cabinet (meeting), our only issue was that the 18 lakh poor people will get PM Awas Yojna. A decision has been taken and in near future this will be implemented. We are doing the needful,” he said. He also announced that a decision has been taken to release the pending bonus to farmers for two years. “The bonus for two years to farmers will be given on December 25, the birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” CM Sai said. The previous BJP government could not keep their promise of giving the bonus for two years. “The outgoing (Baghel) government has emptied the coffers and economically weakened the state,” Sai said and when asked how then will his government implement the promises made by the BJP in the manifesto, he added, “We have a double-engine sarkar and it will move fast.” The Indian Express had reported the state has borrowed Rs 89,000 crore plus an interest of Rs 6,000 crore. Asked about his policy to deal with Naxalism, Sai said, “In the last 15 years, we have dealt with Naxalism strongly and in the future too we will continue to fight strongly.” On the issue of conversions, Sai said, “Phir se Dharmantaran pe rok lage iske liye hamari sarkar sochegi (Our government will find ways to curb conversion again).” While he skipped a question on liquor ban, Sai said they will deliver the promises made in the manifesto regarding taking action against alleged corruption during the tenure of the previous government. Asked what will be the top priority for tribal welfare, Sai said, “For 15 years, BJP has worked a lot for the tribals. There was a time when there was starvation in the tribal belt and our government provided them food at a cheaper price. There is no starvation today. We worked on development, education and health and many policies were implemented for their welfare.”
