Chouhan to observe fast against Centre

Bhopal, Apr 25 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said he would undergo 24-hour fast at Roshanpura square here on April 30 to protest the Centre's ''discrimination towards the state'' on issues like electricity, drought relief and foodgrain allotment.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Chouhan said his cabinet colleagues would observe fast on the same day at district headquarters. BJP MLAs, MPs and other office-bearers would also take part in the fast.

''In view of coming assembly election, the Centre has reduced coal allotment to the state's thermal power plants adversely affecting electricity generation,'' said Mr Chouhan.

Pointing out that the power supplied to the state from eastern region was also reduced from 350 MW to 31 MW, he said construction work of Chachai and Birsinghpur thermal power plants was deliberately delayed though it was scheduled for completion one-and-a-half-year ago.

''Similarly, no relief was provided to the 37 drought-hit districts of the state though the state had demanded Rs 1500 crore as immediate relief and Rs 24,000 crore as long term package,'' said Mr Chouhan, adding that 66,000 metric tonnes of wheat had been provided under the APL quota against the requirement of 1,19,000 metric tonnes.

Flaunting the data, he said more wheat had been given to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka and West Bengal in comparison to Madhya Pradesh.

''The same attitude of discrimination was adopted in Indira Awas Kutir Yojana,'' Mr Chouhan added.

More UNI KV SP 1311