BJP has cheated, pained people: Anand Sharma

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma on Sunday alleged that the BJP had only "cheated and pained" the people instead of bringing "good days" to them. "Where are those good days? People have suffered from pains and have been cheated by the BJP due to its anti-people policies," said Sharma, while addressing a press conference here.

Sharma's presser was briefly disrupted after a man from the crowd of journalists created some scenes. He was not a journalist. Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for causing the disturbance. "It was the BJP's handiwork," she said.

Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the promises made by him and their current status, Sharma said, "The Prime Minister never hesitates in making claims, but at least he should make the claims that are concrete and correct. Where are those "good days" that the Prime Minister promised? Why shall the people of Madhya Pradesh and India place their trust in him or the BJP?"

Referring to the BJP's Vision Document for Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, Sharma said, "Finance Minister Arun Jaitley along with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday released the manifesto. They spoke about many things but it would have been better if Jaitley had provided an answer to the weakening of the country's economy under the Prime Minister Modi's tenure."

Sharma further questioned the lack of investment, falling value of rupee, lack of employment, central excise duty, fuel prices, demonetization, scams, banking situation in the country and an array of several other issues. "The value of rupee has depreciated by 16.5 per cent," he added.

Taking on Chief Minister Chouhan over his claims that he was the sole entity behind the development of Madhya Pradesh, Sharma said: "The UPA government allotted a lot of funds to the state for development and infrastructure upgradation." The senior Congress leader also lauded former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his policies and development he brought in during his tenure.

In an apparent reference to the promise of the BJP to provide employment and safety to women in the state, senior Congress leader quipped: "Has the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh realized the importance of women safety after 15 years?"

It is worth mentioning that Madhya Pradesh goes to one-phase assembly polls on November 28. The counting of votes will take place on December 11.