Raman Singh responds to PM, says 'no state govt. can compete with Chhattisgarh over PDS'

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Saturday dismissed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's claims that the state government has failed to utilise the funds allocated by the Centre for development.

Strongly reacting to Prime Minister's remark that 90 percent of the funds for the Public Distribution System (PDS) comes from the Centre, Raman Singh asserted that no state government can ever compete with Chhattisgarh over PDS.

"No state government in India can compete with Chhattisgarh over Public Distribution System (PDS). The kind of PDS system that we have, I challenge any state government to set up a PDS system like us in the next ten years," he said.

Manmohan Singh, who earlier addressed a rally in Raipur, accused the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government of failing to deal with Naxalism, and in utilizing the funds allocated by the Central Government for development of the state.

"Some BJP leaders are even now changing history and geography of the country. By making big speeches from big stages they wont come to power. BJP's Chhattisgarh Government talks highly of its Public Distribution System (PDS) system, but 90 percent of the funds for it come from the Centre," he added.

Campaigning for first phase of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh will come to an end this evening.

Eighteen Constituencies spread over eight districts in south Chhattisgarh will witness voting on November 11 while the remaining 72 segments will go into polls on November 19.

The results of the Chhattisgarh elections, along with those in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, will be declared on December 8.