Chhattisgarh lagging behind in development: Sonia

Raipur, Oct 14 (UNI) Congress president Sonia Gandhi today alleged that Chhattisgarh was lagging behind in development despite adequate assistance from the Centre.

''This raises serious questions over the policies of the BJP government,'' she said, while addressing a public meeting here after participating in a state-level party workers training camp, organised by the state Congress committee.

Ms Gandhi said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the centre had released adequate funds to the state during the last two-and-half years but development initiatives were not visible anywhere.

''Political parties like the BJP are in the habit of levelling allegations against the Congress to hide their inefficiency,'' she said, pointing out that Chhattisgarh was a state with power surplus but within three years of BJP rule, the situation has turned worse and people were facing power cuts.

''Public distribution system is in a mess. Law and order has situation deteriorated. Roads are bad and irrigation facility has been badly affected,'' Ms Gandhi noted, adding that it appeared that the funds received from the Centre were siphoned off.

During her nearly 45 minute address, Ms Gandhi mainly focused on Chhattisgarh and the performance of three-year-old Raman Singh Government.

''After Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in November 2000, the then Ajit Jogi government had put the state on fast track of development, despite the fact that the then NDA Government at Centre ignored the state's interests,'' she added.

More UNI JJ PS YA RK1926