''Money spent on MP CM''s fast be deposited to state exchequer''

Bhopal, Feb. 15 (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh Congress todaydemanded that the ruling BJP deposit in the State exchequer Rstwo crore spent on decorating the venue of Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan''s fast here.

"A sum of Rs two crore was spent from the State exchequerfor the fast which never took off," MP Congress spokesman, J PDhanopia told PTI.

The spokesman said that the fast appeared to be meant fornothing but for "cheap publicity" of Chouhan.

Dhanopia said since the BJP publicity stunt was abortedthe money spent on decorating the fast venue and providingfacilities for the Chief Minister had gone waste.

"It is therefore appropriate that the BJP deposits Rstwo crore in the state exchequer," he said.

Chouhan called off his fast following an "assurance" byPrime Minister Manmohan Singh that the Centre will look intothe issues raised by the state government.

The CM sat on a fast on February 13 in a makeshift tenthere at Dusshera Maidan in BHEL to protest the Centre''salleged neglect of the demands of the state.

The state BJP had 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 on account of frost and cold conditions.