Bhopal: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh faced a major embarrassment after a cabinet minister of Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s government was booked for demanding votes along the lines of caste, while another minister was seen boasting about his corrupt practices and displaying poll generosity in the poll bound central state of India.
In a video, which has gone viral on social media, agriculture minister Gauri Shankar Bisen was heard saying, “Union minister Smriti Irani is my sister. I would be calling ten thousand sarees from Surat, worth Rs 30 lakhs and would distribute it across my region”.
In the video the BJP MLA from Balaghat seat is also seen boasting how he minted money through construction works from mandi fund, earned crores from construction works in agriculture and a medical college.
In the video, the Agriculture Minister was seen explaining his future plans, by saying that he would contest the Lok Sabha election and then become union minister to rise above the stature of Madhya Pradesh Chief Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He reportedly alleged that he would spend hundreds of crores to convince PM Modi so that he becomes the union agriculture minister.
“Theka (contract)” of Rs 100 crore with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for either the Agricultural Ministry or the Forest Ministry. He says “Mein Dunga 100 Crore Aur Ya To Krishi Ya Van Lunga (I will give 100 crore and either take agriculture or forest)," in the video.
Watch the video here:
The video was released by Samajwadi Party lawmaker Kankar Munjare on social media. Madhya Pradesh Aam Aadmi Party has lodged a complaint regarding the same with the Chief Electoral Officer by submitting a CD of the video to the Election Commission.
In another video that went viral in social media is causing a huge embarrassment to the BJP. In a video, Minister for Health Rustam Singh is seen allegedly demanding votes on caste lines.
Singh was heard issuing a warning by saying “Dil Mein Jo Aata Hai Wo Kahta Hun. Gurjaron Ke Bare Main Kaha Jata Hai Ki Ye Kisi Ki Nahin Sunte. Paani Bah Raha Hai To Paani Ke Khilaaf Tairenge. Matlab Ye Hai Ki Ye Nahi Sunenge Mantri Ki…Bade Sher Hain. Inke Behkave Mein Nahi Aana. Hamare Viprit Mamla Hone Ka Matlab Brahmin Ko MLA Banana Hai Bas (It was noticed that Gurjars do not consent to what they were told and sometimes go against the `stream’ in order to show themselves `different’. But one should remember that going against me means to elect a Brahmin as MLA)”.
“Minister Rustam Singh was booked for violating the pre-poll Model Code of Conduct (MCC) allegedly with speech that incited enmity among communities,” said a senior EC official.
A case has been registered at the Noorbad Police Station in Morena district, he added.
Reacting on the development, Singh said, the clip was from a meeting held before model code of conduct came into effect. The IPS officer-turned-politician added he had never promoted casteism, he and his party always sought vote on development.
The election for the 230 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 28. Counting of votes will be done on December 11. BJP and Congress are having direct fights on most seats. BJP is in power in Madhya Pradesh for a decade and half and many believe anti-incumbency are high for the saffron brigade, this time.
