'BJP responsible for lack of development in Chhattisgarh': Sonia Gandhi

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Chhattisgarh Government has not paid any attention to the development of the state, and the law and order situation in the Naxal affected areas.

She also accused the government for failing to provide adequate healthcare facilities for women and children.

"The development of Chhattisgarh during the rule of BJP has deteriorated. The Central Government has allocated crores of rupees for the development of the state, but even then children here are suffering from malnutrition. The Chhattisgarh Government has not given required attention to development, law and order is in shambles, and women are unsafe," she said while addressing a rally here in the poll-bound state.

'Women are not getting adequate healthcare facilities, and there is lack of education infrastructure. In rural Chhattisgarh there are no signs of roads or electricity. How do these people have the audacity to make tall claims?" she questioned.

Emphasising on various schemes introduced by the Congress for the welfare of the people, she further said that her party also brought the Land Acquisition Bill, which ensures that no one can forcefully confiscate the land of the farmers.

"It is the responsibility of the state government to ensure that people here are able to avail the benefits of the scheme introduced by the Centre. But unfortunately, this is not happening here. People of Chhattisgarh have been betrayed," she added.

She also criticized the ruling BJP government in Chhattisgarh for failing to protect the people from the menace of Naxals, despite assistance from the Central Government.

"Like other Naxal affected states, full assistance has been provided by the Central government to Chhattisgarh. The Naxal attack on Congress leaders is a matter of shame for the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government. What measure have they taken to protect people from Naxalism,' she asked.

Chhattisgarh, which witnessed a voter turnout of 67 percent in its first phase on Monday, will go into its second phase of polls on November 19, for the remaining 72 constituencies.

Yesterday, Deputy Election Commissioner R. Balakrishnan said that there was visible enthusiasm in voters to participate in democratic process, despite sporadic attacks by Maoists, and rebel boycott calls, sporadic incidents of blasts, exchange of firing, and unearthing of IEDs in some places.

He also confirmed that one CRPF jawan succumbed to his injuries in Dantewada District in exchange of fire between the security forces and the Naxals.

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