Jogi, Ministers take to the streets

RAIPUR, JAN. 2. The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi, along with his Cabinet colleagues, today staged a dharna against the Centre, alleging that it had not sanctioned any fund to combat drought and threatened to `gherao' Parliament during its Budget session.

``When people of Chhattisgarh are facing a severe crisis due to unprecedented drought following scanty rainfall, the BJP-led NDA Government is playing politics over the issue of providing Central assistance'', Mr. Jogi told a rally before staging the dharna at the historic Jai Stambh Chowk here. ``But I will ensure that no one dies of starvation in the State during this crisis'', he told the meeting in Chhattisgarhi language.

Giving a `Delhi Chalo' slogan, Mr. Jogi said the Parliament will be gheraoed ``for adopting step-motherly attitude'' and not sanctioning a single paisa though the State had asked for a Rs. 570 crore Central assistance to combat the situation here, he announced.

``We are not begging to the Centre. We are only asking for our right and we have the right to get the Rs. 570 crores from the Centre'', the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Jogi also demanded that Chhattisgarhi be given recognition as an official language by the Centre. Earlier, speaking to presspersons at his residence, the Chief Minister said despite repeated reminders the Centre had failed to help the State Government on the drought issue.

Stating that despite his meetings with the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar and the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission and their assurances, the State had failed to receive any fund.

Taking on Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Jogi said ``in the absence of his cooperation to the newly-created Chhattisgarh, people of the State may be reduced to starvation stage in the near- future''.

``We have also asked for rice given as assistance if the Union Government does not have money as Food Corporation of India godowns here are stockpiled with rice'', he added.

Twenty-four Ministers of his Cabinet also took out rallies and staged dharnas in respective districts of their charge, official sources said.

- PTI

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