As Chouhan undertakes fast, BJP, Congress trade charges

Bhopal, Feb 13 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan''s decision to undertake a fast fromtoday to protest the Centre''s alleged neglect of the demandsof the state has led to a war of words between the ruling BJPand the Congress.

While the BJP is claiming that the Congress-led UPAGovernment at the Centre was not doing anything to alleviatethe suffering of the farmers, some of whom have committedsuicide, the main Opposition party has dubbed the fast as a"political gimmick".

Targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, State BJPPresident Prabhat Jha has said he may have a goodunderstanding of economics, but he seems ignorant about thecountry''s federal structure.

Jha has said BJP was not in power in Madhya Pradeshdue to the mercy of the Congress. The main Opposition partyhad no right to "humiliate" the people of the state.

While maintaining that the Chief Minister''s fast wouldnot be indefinite, he said it was only meant to highlight the"step-motherly" treatment being meted out by the Centre to thepeople of the state.

The Congress, on the other hand, has said the fast isbeing undertaken to divert the people''s attention from otherpressing issues.

"If one wants to take a lesson on how to divert thepeople''s attention, one should attend a class presided byChouhan," Congress MLA Ajay Singh said, taking potshots at theBJP leader, who in November last, became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh to complete fiveyears in office. (More) PTI AS RSY