Chhattisgarh CM takes on Congon Pushp Steel issue

Raipur, Oct 14 (UNI) Accusing main opposition Congress of being divided into groups, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has alleged that some of the leaders of the party 'were putting up an act of being combative on the Pushp Steel company issue.

''For a few leaders of the Congress, which has remained inactive for the past four years, it seems there is no other issue left for harping on against my government. The matter has been discussed at length in the Assembly. The fact -- that the Congress is habituated of making statements sans either head or tail -- has been brought to light,'' he told UNI.

Instead of praising the promptness with which the regime handled the matter, the opposition was attempting to mislead people but in vain, the Chief Minister added.

''The State Investment Promotion Board cancelled memoranda of understanding (MoU) of 18 companies -- including Pushp Steel -- that did not initiate work as per assurances. There was neither allotment of mines nor any scam but the opposition is fighting over a non-issue,'' Dr Singh felt.

In the recent past, the Congress has been placing the state government in the dock over an MoU for an iron ore mine linked with Pushp Steel -- with a turnover of a ''mere'' Rs 2.5 lakh -- and the Centre being sent a recommendation for allotment of a mine to the company. Congress state president Charandas Mahant said he would lodge a police complaint against the Chief Minister tomorrow.

''The claim -- that the Congress was strengthened by the return of former Union Minister Vidyacharan Shukla -- is hollow. The truth is that the fissure has actually widened. The situation being created in that party is similar to that in the period preceding the 2003 Vidhan Sabha elections,'' Dr Singh said.

Admitting that isolated instances surfaced of slight dicontent among BJP workers, he added that when a party was in power its workers' expectations were also high.

UNI