Panchayat polls: Diggy against dropping of two-child rule

Shajapur, MP, July 20 (UNI) AICC General Secretary and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh today felt that social interests were harmed by the Panchayati Raj and Village Self-government (Amendment) Bill, 2006, which did away with the norm that candidates contesting Panchayati Raj institutions' polls would face disqualification if they had more than two offspring.

''The ban was imposed on January 26, 2001 during my chief ministership. Doing away with it makes it appear as if this state's BJP regime is obeying signals of RSS Sarsanghchalak K S Sudarshan,'' he told mediapersons here.

Alleging that the saffron party government proved a failure on every front, the Congress leader added that the regime was desirous of drafting an anti-conversion law with a dogmatic Hindu viewpoint.

''Instead, such legislation ought to be practical and a citizen's right to decide as per his or her will should be safeguarded in keeping with the Constitution. Criminal cases filed by the government, against members of the Christian and other communities, will be reviewed and withdrawn in the event of the Congress coming to power in this state,'' Mr Singh assured.

Alleging black-marketeering in foodgrain distribution, he blamed it for inflation.

''During my tenure, an attempt was made to rein in religious organisations such as SIMI and Bajrang Dal in view of their suspicious antecedents,'' Mr Singh claimed.

Dismissing any apprehension of a mid-term poll, the Congress bigwig expressed confidence that the UPA regime would complete its term.

''I will not accept any government post but keep toiling for the Congress organisation as a disciplined soldier. My party will not enter any alliance with ex-chief minister Uma Bharti's Bharatiya Janashakti,'' he maintained.

Trashing accusations about historical facts being altered in syllabi, Mr Singh added that NCERT syllabi were being improved by astute officials and experts.

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