Bhopal, Oct 30 (PTI) The Congress today claimed thatthe BJP government in Madhya Pradesh spent Rs 1.74 crore on'aaratis' performed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhanduring this year's Narmada conservation campaign.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajay Singh, whomade the allegation, also demanded a Supreme Court-monitoredinquiry into the government expenditure on the campaign.
"This is a kind of scam in the performance of aartisby the chief minister during the `Namami Devi Narmade - SewaYatra'. According to RTI information, the government paid Rs59,000 to an event management company for a single aaratiperformed by the chief minister at Khargone," he said.
"So, an estimated Rs 1.74 crore were spent during this148-day campaign only on aartis, a ritual that can beperformed at a cost of Rs 5-10 at home. Even the Ganga aaratiperformed by the prime minister would have cost less," theCongress leader said.
"A Supreme Court-monitored inquiry should be conductedin the expenditure on the Namami Devi Narmade - Sewa Yatra,"Singh demanded.
The BJP dismissed his allegation as made "out ofdesperation as people have repeatedly rejected the Congress".
"This was the world's biggest campaign to createawareness about conservation of Madhya Pradesh's lifeline,the Narmada. A large number of people participated. TheCongress is unable to digest good work," State BJP vicepresident Vijesh Lunawat said.
"Congress has suffered defeats repeatedly in theleader of opposition's own area. His party will again bedefeated in the Chitrakoot assembly byelection nextmonth....he should take care of his constituency (instead ofmaking allegations)," the BJP leader added.
The Namami Devi Narmade - Sewa Yatra campaign covereda stretch of 1,831 km on the southern bank of the river,comprising 548 villages or towns, and a stretch of 1,513 km onthe northern bank comprising 556 village or towns fromDecember 2016 to May this year. PTI ADU MASKRK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
