MP Chief Minister calls off fast after PM''s assurance

Bhopal, Feb 13 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan today called off his fast following an"assurance" by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the Centrewill look into the issues raised by the state government.

The BJP leader sat on the fast this afternoon in amakeshift tent here to protest the Centre''s alleged neglect ofthe demands of the state.

A few minutes later, Chouhan got up to address thoseassembled at the venue and announced that he was calling offthe hunger strike following the Prime Minister''s "assurance".

Chouhan said the Prime Minister has invited him for ameeting in Delhi on February 20.

The Prime Minister has also directed the PlanningCommission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to took intothe demands raised by the MP Government, Chouhan said.

Singh assured Chouhan that he would arrange a meetingbetween him and the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission tosort out the issues he had raised.

"This meeting will be arranged within a week. Let mealso take this opportunity to thank you for acceding to myrequest not to proceed on the fast," the Prime Minister said.

Chouhan wrote to the Prime Minister on February 10intimating that he intend to undertake a fast to draw hisattention to various issues relating to Madhya Pradesh.

The state BJP has accused the Congress-led UPAGovernment of meting out "step-motherly" treatment to MadhyaPradesh and ignoring key issues raised by them, especiallythose related to farmers, who are facing tough time due tocrop failure.