Jogi accuses Raman Singh govt of not utilising central funds

Raipur, Oct 4 (UNI) Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi today claimed that the UPA government had provided liberal assistance for various development projects in this state but the Raman Singh regime was failing to utilise the funds.

''This is in comparison to the lesser development funds doled out during the predecessor NDA government. A lion's share of central funds was lost in corruption and one part lapsed,'' the AICC Working Committee's permanent invitee told journalists here.

Alleging that the state government was hell-bent on forcible handing over of farmland to industries, he added that he was certainly not opposing industrialisation but was against such acquisition.

''In faraway Dantewada district, fertile land was acquired for a certain business group. The rules say that gram sabha meetings should aye such acquisition. However, the gatherings were not impartial. The government is maintaining a surprising silence despite the group's management saying that no employment would be provided to peasants who still retained 25 per cent of their holdings,'' Mr Jogi said.

Pointing out that the acquisition policy -- referred to by Congress President Sonia Gandhi vis-a-vis special economic zones -- should be implemented in Chhattisgarh, he added that one person of every affected family ought to be given a job and the families must be granted shares as well.

Expressing surprise over the regime's ''Tughlaqian'' dictat to panchayats for imposing tax on villagers, the Congress bigwig said, ''it is wrong to pressurise panchayats as the Centre is directly disbursing development funds for panchayats.'' Indicating that ideal weather conditions led to record paddy production, he accused the government of being apathetc about buying paddy at support price.

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