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Journalism of Courage
RAIPUR, JAN 2: Chattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, along with his Cabinet and members of the Congress party, today staged a dharna “satyagraha” at the Jaistambh Chowk here to press the Vajpayee Government to address the drought problem in the state and provide fiscal assistance.
Party office-bearers submitted a memorandum in this regard, addressed to President K.R. Narayanan, to Governer Dinesh Nandan Sahay.
Addressing a gathering of about 5,000 Congress workers, the Chief Minister said that state government had demanded relief of Rs 570 crore from the Centre to combat the severe drought prevailing in the state but had failed to get a single rupee.
“I met the Prime Minister, the Agriculture Minister and the Vice-Chairman of Planning Commission but nobody listened,” Jogi said.
Stressing that his government would not give up the fight for survival of the people of Chhattisgarh so easily, Jogi said: “We swear by Veer Narayan Singh that if the Centre does not extend us help, the people of Chhattisgarh will lay siege to Delhi and Parliament. This is the voice of the poor. We will not let the people of Chhattisgarh die of hunger. We are asking for assistance, not begging for alms.”
A senior party leader expressed his resentment that at a time when states like Chhattisgarh have been gripped by severe drought, the Prime Minister was busy enjoying a vacation.
However, Opposition leader Nand Kumar Sai told The Indian Express that Jogi’s dharna is a manifestation of political motives. “Otherwise he (JOgi) is busy inaugrating functions and getting his photographs published in newspapers,” he said.
