MH-CHAVAN

Number of 'Jumlas' will swell ahead of LS polls: Ashok Chavan

Nagpur, Jan 13 (PTI)Launching a sarcastic attack on

ruling BJP, the Congress in Maharashtra Sunday said the

government will unleash new set of "jumlas" (gimmicks) like

quota for the general category, in the run-up to Lok Sabha

elections.

Addressing a programme marking culmination of the

party's Sangharsh Yatra campaign here, state Congress chief

Ashok Chavan said his party's electoral victory in Madhya

Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan has busted the myth that

BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are invincible.

"People are fed up with Modi government, they have

lost patience. Now 'jumla' series number 2 has started-

reservation for the general category. I wonder how many

announcements will be made in the next 60 days, but they won't

work as the next government will be ours. These 'jumlas' will

come out through media but you will have to see the facts," he

told a gathering.

The Parliament recently cleared a Constituional

amendment bill granting 10 per cent reservation to the

Economically Backward Class (EBC) among the general category.

Accusing the BJP of being power drunk, Chavan said the

Congress never used arrogant language like the BJP despite

being in power for decades.

"Has party president Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi ever

used such language like 'ukhad denge, fek denge'?" he asked

the gathering.

He also criticised the government over withdrawal of

the invitation of noted author Nayantra Sahgal for the 92nd

Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, which concluded Sunday in Yavatmal.

"Have we ever heard that litterateurs being stopped

from expressing their views at literary meets fearing

criticism? Government faces criticism from litterateurs many

times on such platforms. They have the freedom of speech. Who

has given the government the right to prevent authors from

speaking?" he questionned.

This is violation of democracy but the people should

show the government what real democracy is by voting Congress

back to power, he said.

The former chief minister said he was told that the

BJP will use the "money power" to retain its rule in

Maharashtra in upcoming assembly polls.

"But I want to tell BJP that the people of Maharashtra

are not for sale. You think you can buy them.... people have

seen through all your 'jumlas'," he said, adding that people

are fed up with the "false promises" of the BJP governments.

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