Union Minister Giriraj Singh’s three-day visit to Chhattisgarh sparks political debates.
Raipur
Union Minister of Rural Development and the Panchayati Raj Department, Giriraj Singh, has kicked off a three-day visit to Chhattisgarh, landing at Raipur on Saturday. His arrival was met with a warm welcome from Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma and other prominent BJP leaders and workers at the airport.
During his visit, Giriraj Singh engaged with journalists, addressing various key issues. He weighed in on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming “Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,” scheduled to commence on January 14. The Union Minister suggested that instead of a justice-focused journey, Rahul Gandhi should consider embarking on a ‘Gyan Yatra’ (knowledge journey), asserting that meaningful interactions with people in various villages could provide invaluable insights.
Giriraj Singh also addressed allegations of corruption within the Panchayat Department, particularly during the tenure of Bhupesh Baghel. He emphasized the urgency of investigating corruption linked to the construction of clusters in Panchayats, citing significant malpractices. Expressing concern about the lack of recovery actions in MGNREGA projects, he vowed to initiate thorough investigations and promised to hold those responsible accountable, with potential jail sentences.
Accusing the Congress party of looting the Panchayati Raj system, Giriraj Singh emphasized that his visit aimed to rectify irregularities within the clusters. He announced upcoming discussions to enhance the functionality of the Chhattisgarh government.
On the Congress party’s stance regarding Ayodhya, Giriraj Singh made a sarcastic remark, stating that the temple organization had invited Sonia Gandhi, but she declined the invitation. Accusing the Congress of being anti-Hindu, he criticized their approach to Hinduism-related issues and predicted unfavorable election outcomes for Congress due to their perceived anti-Hindu stance.
In response to Giriraj Singh’s statements, former minister Shiv Kumar Dahariya accused the BJP of engaging in religious and caste-based propaganda. Dahariya emphasized that personal faith is an individual matter, and decisions about visiting temples should remain personal.
Dahariya also commented on investigations into schemes initiated during the Congress government’s tenure, stating that any irregularities should be investigated. However, he highlighted that the benefits of these schemes were widespread.
Regarding Giriraj Singh’s accusation of the Congress being anti-Hindu, Dahariya pointed out that both the RSS and BJP engage in caste and religious politics, a strategy historically used by the British. He criticized the RSS and BJP for perpetuating such practices, asserting that they contradict Mahatma Gandhi’s fight against the British.
