Madhya Pradesh 2023: J P Nadda Flags Off BJP's Jan Aashirwad Yatra In Chitrakoot; Chief Minister Chouhan Tears Into Congress

Ahead of the assembly elections in the state later this year, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched its Jan Aashirwad Yatra in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday (3 September).

The Vindhya section of the yatra was officially flagged off by BJP national president J P Nadda in a public meeting held in Chitrakoot.

Praising Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the occasion, Nadda said that earlier Madhya Pradesh would be counted among the 'BIMARU' states but Chouhan had turned it into a prosperous one.

Giving numbers, Nadda said that while in 2002, the per capita income in MP was Rs 11,171, today it was Rs 1,40,000. In 2002, the road network in MP added up to merely 60,000 km, according to Nadda. Today, it was more than 5 lakh kms.

Nadda added that through the Jan Aashirwad Yatra, the BJP would aim to tell the people of the transformation that Madhya Pradesh has undergone in the last 20 years.

On the indices of cleanliness, smart city, water conservation, Pradhan Mantri Swamitva Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, women's empowerment, child development programme, Pradhan Mantri Svanidhi Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Madhya Pradesh was at the top spot.

Taking a jibe at the Congress and its de facto leader in the state, Kamal Nath, Nadda said that under Chouhan the spread of development was such that a medical college was started even in Chhindwara. Chhindwara is seen as the stronghold of Kamal Nath.

Nadda also invoked recent history to say that in the previous four assembly elections, the Vindhya region had thrown its weight behind the BJP, and he was certain that the region would wholeheartedly support his party in 2023 as well.

Addressing the event, Chouhan declared that more than 1 lakh houses had been built in Satna district alone under the PM Awas Yojana. Even so, those whose names had been left out, they would be given land pattas and a pakka house would soon follow.

He also added that farmers should not worry about the deficient rainfall and the government would pull them out of all woes.

The tenure Chouhan is known for delivering high rate of agricultural growth and it was on farmer's issues itself that CM focussed a good part of his speech on.

'Congress Turned Farmers Into Defaulters'

The Congress made false promises of loan waivers but turned farmers into defaulters, said Chouhan. "Now, our government is paying the interest on those loans."

Direct Transfers

Farmers in MP are getting direct support worth Rs 12,000 every year, said the Chief Minister. Rs 6,000 are being transferred under the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana of the Centre while another Rs 6,000 are being paid by the state government.