Constitutional anarchy in MP, says Congress

Bhopal, Nov 6 (UNI) The opposition Congress today alleged in the Vidhan Sabha that ''constitutional anarchy'' prevailed in Madhya Pradesh with the government patronising corruption and the law and order deteriorating to such an extent that an MLA and two professors were killed recently.

Initiating the debate on the Rs 1173 crore demands in the second supplementary budget for 2006-07, Mr Satyadeo Katare (Cong) said corruption had spread to such an extent that a ruling party MLA sent a letter to the Chief Minister seeking to transfer an official, who was not cooperating to raise party fund.

Mr Katare alleged that the BJP government had failed to utilise the allocated funds and the state's plan expenditure spending totalled only 67 percent. Huge allocation was allowed to lapse, he added.

Mr Katare claimed the state suffered heavy loss due to delay in implementation of Value Added Tax.

Countering the government claim of MP being labelled number one in India Today conclave and huge amount spent on its publicity, he said the reality was different. ''The state topped in rape, atrocities on tribals, malnutrition, corruption, transfer of officials and frequent change of chief ministers'', Mr Katare said drawing flak from the ruling bench, which questioned the source of the data.

The Congress member also criticised the government for decline in agriculture production, irrigation and thermal power generation and alleged that SIMI activists were found hatching conspiracy under police protection. Insecurity prevailed among the residents of state capital, which, he said, had turned into a den of dacoits.

On the other hand, Ms Sudha Jain(BJP) claimed the state achieved progress on different fronts and earned Rs 68 crore by selling surplus electricity. The opposition countered the claim saying electricity was sold to other states by resorting to power cut across the state.

Mr Ramlakhan Sharma, the lone CPI(M) member in the house, charged the BJP government with misusing funds and spending budget allocation only in few districts. Citing an example, he said, of the 8 roads under construction, 5 were being constructed in Vidisha and 2 in Raisen to gain electoral mileage in the recent Vidisha byelection. Such discrimination was being made in opening of schools also, he added.

School Education Minister Narottam Mishra denied Mr Sharma's contention, but his claim boomeranged when several opposition members raised their hands in response to the minister's query whether any legislator could point out that at least one school was not opened in each Assembly constituency.

UNI SP VA DB2220