'Develop Amethi like Chhattisgarh': CM Raman Singh challenges Rahul Gandhi

A war of words has ensued between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the developmental measures that have taken place in poll-bound Chhattisgarh.

Raipur, June 8: A war of words has ensued between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the developmental measures that have taken place in poll-bound Chhattisgarh under the Raman Singh government.

As the Assembly elections in the state are scheduled in December, the verbal duel has reached a tipping point after chief minister Singh has ended up challenging Congress president Rahul Gandhi to develop his constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh like Chhattisgarh.

After the opposition Congress raised questions over the issue of development in the BJP-ruled state, the CM said that "they just want to oppose". Then he went ahead and asked Rahul to develop Amethi like Chhattisgarh.

"The Congress is saying that no development has happened in Chhattisgarh. There are concrete roads in the rural areas. What more they want? They just want to oppose. I want to tell Rahul Gandhi, if you can do half of this development in Amethi, I will be happy with it," Singh said while addressing a public rally during his "Vikas Yatra" in Bemetara.

In May, when Rahul visited Chhattisgarh to officially launch the Congress' election campaign in the state he targeted the BJP government. The 47-year-old Congress president also held road shows and bike rallies in the state last month.

During an election rally, Rahul had said, "The government claims that it works on the road. 32 people were killed (by the Maoists) on the road. Where was the government? The senior-most leader in the Opposition was murdered, where was the government? When they can't protect political leaders, how can they protect adivasis and common people? How can such a government work for your progress?"

After Karnataka, the Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan will take place in December. In all the four elections, the Congress and the BJP will have a direct fight against each other.

After the elections in these states, the country will host the big 2019 Lok Sabha polls which are likely to take place in April/May next year.