BJP destroying communal harmony: Congress

Bhopal, Mar 14 (UNI) The opposition Congress today alleged in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly that the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government had no control over the administration leading to frequent communal flare-up in the state.

Communal incidents took place in at least 12 places in the past three months, while curfew was clamped in another 12 places after police firing, teargassing and lathicharge failed to control the situation during the BJP regime, Mr Sajjan Singh Varma(Cong) said.

He was participating in the budgetary demands of over Rs 2210 crore for 2007-08 pertaining to General Administration, Police, Home, Public Relations, Science and Technology, Narmada Valley Development and Aviation departments held by the Chief Minister.

Mr Varma alleged that Mr Chouhan was trying to imitate his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi in fanning communal tension.

Stating that the law and order situation was worsening, he pointed out that 20 legislators were attacked during the BJP regime. A former minister and BJP MLA Kishorilal Varma and his wife were murdered. At least 12 people died in police custody.

The Congress member said BJP and RSS workers had taken up the role of moral police and about 3915 incidents of attacking government officials who did not toe their line were reported. Due to terror unleashed by Hindutva forces, Muslims and Christians were insecure, he said.

Mr Varma expressed concern over the increasing crime graph with about 5.15 lakh cases registered during the BJP regime as compared to 3.26 lakh cases registered during the previous three years of Digvijay Singh tenure. Naxalites were expanding their area of operation to new districts- Umaria, Anuppur and Shahdol- in the absence of effective steps to check the rebels.

The government had put on hold inquiry reports regarding various scandals involving ministers, he alleged.

On the other hand, Mr Lal Singh Arya (BJP) defended the government's handling of crime control saying population growth contributed to spurt in crimes. He charged that during the previous Congress regime even legislators were not safe and a minister was killed by naxalites.

Claiming that the BJP government had taken effective steps to check dacoity, Mr Arya said 42 dacoits, including three members of the Rambabu Gadaria gang, were killed in encounters, while another 185 arrested.

The government had succeeded to unearth an arms factory being run by naxalites in the state capital, while a case was registered against IPS officer Rajababu Singh posted in Bhind district even on the suspicion of his involvement in a murder case, Mr Arya added.

There was drastic decline in atrocities against women and other weaker sections, he said, adding the BJP government had launched innovative schemes in the social sector benefitting women and girls.

UNI