BHOPAL: Chief Minister Kamal Nath gave a curt reply to former MP Jyotiraditya Scindia’s threat that he would take to the streets if services of guest scholars were not regularised; "let it be so," Nath said.
Nath made the above statement to media persons after attending the Congress’s coordination committee meeting in New Delhi on Saturday. Scindia on Friday had ripped into his own government during his two-day visit to the state.
On the issue of guest scholars, Scindia said that it was in Congress’s Vachan Patra (manifesto) that their services would be regularised. Scindia then went on to say that he would take to the streets with swords and shields if the party reneges on its promises made in the manifesto.
It is clear from Nath’s statement that internal squabbling in the party may spill out on the streets any day.
Scindia has already expressed his resentment against the government several times.
He said that the party had promised to waive farmers’ loan up to Rs 2 lakh, but only farmers with loans up to Rs 50,000 got relief.
“If the party reneges on its promises made before the assembly elections, he will launch an agitation for the people,” Scindia said.
The supporters of Scindia have demanded that he should be made MPCC president. But, CM Nath and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh did not agree to it and the appointment of MPCC head is still hanging in balance.
It is said that one Rajya Sabha seat in the state will soon be vacant. Other than vying for the post of MPCC president, Scindia is also in the race for RS membership.
Scindia is angry because he is not getting enough attention from the government. Nath, however, said there was no gap between the government and the organisation.
No accord on any issue; another meet on Feb 23
As there was no agreement among leaders on any issue in the meeting of the coordination committee on Saturday it was decided that another meeting will be held on February 23.
Sources said the meeting continued for two hours but there was no accord on any issues. Besides Jyotiraditya Scindia, Deepak Babaria, Digvijaya Singh, Jitu Patwari, Meenakshi Natrajan and Arun Yadav were present in the meeting held at Nath's residence.
The leaders also discussed party’s condition at grassroot level and felt that it would be difficult for the party to win elections of urban bodies and panchayats.
Babaria said that the MPCC president would soon be appointed and there would be changes in the organisation. The committee also discussed that ministers should pay attention to party workers. It was also discussed whether the urban body polls could be held on the pattern of Panchayat election - without symbols.
Both Scindia and Babaria tried to mount pressure on Nath on the issue of political appointments. They said the political appointments should be made through discussions.
