MP Congress accuses BJP of 'copying' AAP

CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's largesse of offering blankets to the poor in publicly managed night shelters draw criticism

Though mercury has sharply dropped below eight degree in Bhopal, politicians are feeling 'Aap' heat and are being tagged as copycat. State chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's largesse of offering blankets to the poor in publicly managed night shelters draw nothing but criticism.

In Congress camp an aggressive leader Kalpana Parulekar has reportedly hinted at joining 'Aap' party soon. Kalpana, an ex-MLA, is known for her being out-spoken.

Chouhan who had spent few hours in the shelters known as 'Rain Basera' and surprise checks in various government organisations after coming back to power third time in a row.

Chouhan's cabinet colleague and ex-chief minister Babulal Gaur is also making surprise inspection of various 'Thanas' and leaving no opportunity to criticize police. Another minister Maya Singh today made surprise visit to a rehabilitation Center in Gwalior and found irregularities. To their 'Aap' act Congress has promptly responded by saying Chouhan and his team's sympathy towards poor a 'gimmick' . "He and his ministers are just copying Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, had he felt some courage he should have demanded a CBI probe in professional board exam scam," Leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare said here.

Chouhan however, while speaking to reporters had brushed allegations aside and said he had concerns with the poor. "I wanted to know how poor people brave cold."

Chouhan not only visited night shelters in Bhopal but fined an officer who was smoking in office.

Later he also inspected quality of roads, inspected a file in building permission department and found contact numbers of the applicants were missing. He instructed the commissioner of Bhopal Municipal Corporation accordingly.

BJP on the other hand do not subscribe to opinion of opposition that Chouhan is under 'Aap' influence, and said it is an agenda of Chouhan. "He had already announced it soon after coming back to power," said a BJP spokesperson. Chouhan had made promise to crackdown on corruption, ban on new liquor shops and install a commission for the middle class, besides offering Rs 1 kg rice to the poor.