Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday remarked that Congress and other opposition parties are facing lack of credibility Chhattisgarh and have lost people’s faith. Talking to reporters, Singh said, “Congress is facing a credibility crisis in Chhattisgarh. That is why it has not projected a chief ministerial candidate in the state”.
“Other opposition parties are also grappling with the same problem,” he added. Singh further targeted Congress and said that its manifesto “is an admission that Congress has lost its credibility” and “as meaningless as a post-dated cheque in a bank that is on the verge of bankruptcy”.
The home minister was in the state to address rallies ahead of the second phase of polls scheduled to be held on November 20.
“The party has lost its inherent strength”, he said. He also appealed to Naxals to shun violence and join the mainstream. He also claimed that the country would be free from this violence in next three to five years.
“Naxal menace is on the wane. Earlier, around 90 districts were in the grip of Naxalism, but the number has now come down to 10-11 districts. The menace will be wiped out of the country in next three to five years,” he said.
On being asked about non-payment of bonus to grain producing farmers by the state government since last couple of years, he said, “It is true that bonus was not paid to farmers for a couple of years due to certain circumstances. But the Chhattisgarh government paid the bonus this year and will continue to do so subsequently”.
However, he did not mention the reason as to why the state government failed to pay the bonus to farmers since last few years.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has slammed the Raman Singh-led BJP government in the state for paying bonus to farmers just before polls, adding that the measure is aimed to gain political mileage.