Madhya Pradesh: BJP Criticizes Rahul, Attributes Development Shortcomings in Bundelkhand to Congress
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Bhopal, Dec 21 (NationPress) The BJP president of Madhya Pradesh and Lok Sabha MP representing Khajuraho, V.D. Sharma, directed criticism at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi concerning the pressing issues of poverty, migration, and drought in the Bundelkhand area, attributing the lack of progress to the Congress party.
The Khajuraho MP remarked that Rahul Gandhi has frequently "expressed sorrow" and "mocked the poverty" of Bundelkhand, yet the Congress has kept this region in a state of neglect for years, despite having held power both in the state and at the national level.
Sharma's comments were made in response to Rahul Gandhi's claims regarding the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government's alleged misuse of a special package of Rs. 7,266 crore intended for the development of the drought-affected area, which was allocated by the UPA government in 2009.
During a public rally in the Bundelkhand region ahead of the Assembly elections last November, Rahul Gandhi made significant accusations against the BJP government regarding the misallocation of funds designated for Bundelkhand.
In a media briefing on Saturday about the preparations for the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project by the BJP-led MP government, Sharma stated that the water scarcity in Bundelkhand will soon be a thing of the past, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the river linking initiative.
It is noteworthy that PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for the interlinking project during his visit to Bundelkhand's Chhatarpur district (part of the Khajuraho Lok Sabha constituency) on December 25, coinciding with the 100th birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the celebration of Christmas.
The state administration claims that this project will facilitate irrigation for 10.62 lakh hectares in the Bundelkhand region, which includes 8.11 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 2.51 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh, as well as providing drinking water to a population of 41 lakh in MP and 21 lakh in Uttar Pradesh.
This initiative to connect the Ken and Betwa rivers is expected to benefit several districts in the state, including Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Niwadi, Damoh, Shivpuri, Datia, Raisen, Vidisha, and Sagar.
Sharma emphasized that Bundelkhand is also poised for industrial development in the forthcoming years, with the Chief Minister Mohan Yadav-led BJP government already initiating preparations by hosting a Regional Industry Conclave (RIC) in Sagar district.
"In 2019, when the BJP nominated me as a candidate for the Khajuraho Lok Sabha seat, I visited rural communities where the people expressed two primary demands: for the Lok Sabha MP to engage with them and to address the drought problem and ensure water availability,"
Sharma elaborated.
The Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh is also characterized by prevalent migration due to geographical constraints and historical contexts. A significant number of migrants are seasonal and circular, working elsewhere and sending funds back to their families.
