As the Budget Session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly commenced, the Opposition Congress, led by state Congress president Jitu Pawari and LoP Umang Singhar, reiterated its call for a White Paper on the increasing debt burden under the BJP government. The Congress emphasized the need for a transparent assessment of the state’s economic situation through the presentation of a ‘white paper’ in the House.
Jitu Pawari raised concerns over what he termed a ‘serious financial crisis’ in Madhya Pradesh, attributing it to the BJP’s policies over the past two decades. He warned of a significant agitation if the government fails to provide the requested White Paper. The Congress party vowed to persist in its demand for a comprehensive report on the current economic status of Madhya Pradesh and threatened a massive protest at the Assembly on February 24 if their request is not met.
In a strategic move, the Congress announced its opposition to the participation of three senior ministers – Dy CM Rajendra Shukla, Urban Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, and Tribals Welfare Minister Vijay Shah – in the ongoing budget session. The party declared that its MLAs would actively oppose the presence of these ministers in the House, demanding their removal from the Cabinet.
The Congress targeted Kailash Vijayvargiya over the issue of contaminated drinking water in Indore’s Bhagirathpura, where a reported 35 deaths have occurred. Blaming Vijayvargiya for the tragedy in his Assembly constituency, the opposition also criticized his leadership of the state’s Urban Department. Additionally, the Congress called for the resignation of Dy CM Rajendra Shukla in connection with the Coldrif tragedy, which claimed the lives of over 20 children in Chhindwara and Betul districts.
In a recent development, Jitu Pawari urged Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to dismiss the three ministers before the Governor’s address in the budget session, citing public sentiment. The Winter Session of the State Assembly began with Governor Mangubhai Patel praising the achievements of the BJP government under Mohan Yadav and outlining plans for the state’s development, designating the year as the Year of Industry and Employment.
