Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur has decided to raise the issues of petrol price rise and corruption in farmers’ insurance scheme during the winter session of the state assembly.
Gaur had recently objected to the steep hike in the price of petroleum products and shot a missive to state finance minister Jayant Malaiya, demanding a slash in the VAT imposed on fuel. Now, the BJP veteran has written a letter to panchayat and rural development minister Gopal Bhargava urging him to take action against officials allegedly involved in corruption in Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance scheme). “It is a matter of great concern that farmers in Vidisha district are not getting benefit of crop insurance scheme, an ambitious welfare scheme launched by Prime Minister Modi. I have learnt that farmers had deposited their insurance premium to the society secretary who had allegedly swindled the money”, said Gaur.
The BJP veteran’s letter has created flutter in the BJP organisation and the state government as Vidisha is the parliamentary constituency of external affairs minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had also won Lok Sabha elections from Vidisha. “I demand that action be taken against society secretary or else I would raise the matter in the state assembly,” warned Gaur, while talking to reporters on Thursday.
Earlier, Gaur had raked up controversy by raising the issue of metro rail project and malnutrition deaths on the floor of the House. Recently, Gaur was vociferous against price hike of petrol and diesel and delay in doubling the farmers’ income. Replying to the letters written by the BJP veteran, Jayant Malaiya said that he would discuss the issue with Gaur and make him aware of the financial situation of the government.
