Panchayati raj crumbling in MP: Cong

Bhopal, Jul 21 (UNI) Congress Madhya Pradesh unit's Election Campaign Committee Chairman Ajay Singh today alleged that panchayati raj had deviated from its objectives in this state during Bharatiya Janata Party rule.

''It is regrettable that the regime has constantly turned a Nelson's eye to rural development after conducting panchayati raj polls. Initially, the number of committees for made implementing panchayati raj was curtailed, then gram sabhas -- committed to rural development -- were made non-existent,'' he said in a statement issued here.

Alleging that all this put government's integrity on suspicion Mr Singh, who was Panchayat Minister during Digvijay Singh's regime said the work done over the past four-and-a-half year made it clear that foundations of the panchayati raj was being weakened.

''In the name of rural development, funds worth crores of rupees meant for central schemes are being swindled. Scams are coming to the fore and the panchayati raj dream is sure to be shattered. I demand that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan focus on rural development by using central funds and strengthen panchayati raj,'' he said.

If this was not done then the state's people would ask the Chief Minister to answer, the Congress leader warned.

UNI AKS-AC GT RN2016