Jogi won’t share dais with PM

‘‘Please come on the stage. The PM is on the stage, don’t do this. You have to address (the meeting). Why are you doing this?’’ Alva said. She even sent party spokesperson Subash Sharma to escort Jogi up to the stage, but Jogi refused to move.

As stunned Congress leaders and scores of party workers looked on, Jogi’s supporters joined in, shouting pro-Sonia and pro-Jogi slogans. As the Prime Minister patiently sat through the entire incident, a fuming Alva asked the slogan-shouting group to maintain discipline or leave the meeting. ‘‘You will not achieve anything by shouting slogans. That’s why the Congress has been reduced to such a poor state in Chhattisgarh,’’ she said.

Jogi, who has been upset with the Vora camp for having sidelined him during the PCC chief’s election, blamed the state Congress chief for not allowing him to travel with the PM to Kawardha and Bhillai today. As Vora tried to explain why he could not accompany the PM, a visibly hurt Jogi shot back: ‘‘You don’t tell me lies. If you want to do politics in Chhattisgarh ignoring Ajit Jogi, you can just forget it.’’

The Prime Minister, unfazed by the drama, later addressed the Congress workers, exhorting them to win over the confidence of the people. He said that the UPA Government had implemented the poverty alleviation programme. He announced that the food for work programme will be converted into the National Employment Guarantee Programme to provide 100 days’ employment to every poor family.

Earlier, launching the national project on rejuvenation of old lakes at Bhoramdeo in Kawardha, the Prime Minister said the Government would enact a new law to make the traditional rights of the tribals legal.

‘‘Tribals believe in peace and are the closest allies of nature and forests. But many people exploit forests and nature. We will soon introduce a Bill in Parliament to give a legal form to the tribals’ traditional rights,’’ he said.