Seniors angry over Congress bodies working

In series of meetings, senior Chhattisgarh Congress Committee leaders expressed their ire over the functioning of other Congress bodies— Youth wing, Women's wing and the state's National Students Union of India (NSUI)— in the state, especially at the time when elections are due.

The Rajiv Bhawan, the Congress' state headquarters, saw the party's state incharge P L Punia chairing a list of meetings including that of the party's coordination, election and publicity committee.

In the meetings, leaders said they were angry over the way Umesh Patel, Kharsia MLA and Chhattisgarh Youth Congress president, and Phulodevi Netam, state Women Congress president, were working.

Umesh is younger son of former home minister and state president Nand Kumar Patel, who was killed in the Jheeram Valley massacre.

They said that Umesh doesn't pick senior leader's calls and that the youth wing is inactive in the state. The leaders pointed out that, in such circumstances, with the elections round the corner, things are not moving in the desired direction and this cannot be tolerated.

Same is the case of the Women's wing, they said and added that the women leaders and workers are not seen on the field.

They demanded that Rajya Sabha MP Chaya Verma be appointed the president of the women's wing or be given the status of a working president.

The leaders said that they have to strengthen the women's wing during the election which is crucial to gain votes.

The working of Akash Sharma, NSUI president, was also analysed.

They said that the NSUI functions are not as complicated as the others but they pointed out that the students' wing could not make much impact among the college and university students due to weak working and said that it needs to be streamlined.

Meanwhile, it was decided that the ‘Jungle Satyagraha’ would officially commence from September 9. Aong with it, the ‘Kisaan Adhikar yatra’ (Farmers’ Right Rally) and the ‘Sankalp Yatra’ (Oath Rally) will also be flagged off.

They said that the issue of Rafale deal would be raised at district level through demonstrations.

Former minister Ravindra Choubey briefing the media after the meetings said that Youth Congress would commence the agitation of ‘Mai Bhi Berozjar hoon’ (I am also unemployed) while the focus of the Women Congress' agitation would be on high prices.

Choubey said that ‘Chargesheet’ against the state government has been kept before the Chargesheet Committee led by former minister and convenor Mohammed Akbar.

The scams related to civil supplies, paddy and mines are prominent issues.

" The Congress party would focus on it. The earlier fixed programmes have also been reviewed while the election campaign committee programmes have also been finalised," he said.

He said that Jogi-Congress and BJP are on the same line and are seeking a three phase election.

Election Commission in year 2003 had withdrawn schoolbags which were then distributed by the then Congress government.

" At present, the state government is distributing 55-lakh smartphones having a photograph of the chief minister. The issues have been raised with the Election Commission and we have sought that they will be withdrawn through notification after the election model code of conduct," he said.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, in an order Mahendra Gangotri (Bilaspur) and Koko Pahadi have been appointed as working presidents of Youth Congress.

They would coordinate with Umesh Patel, who would be busy with elections.

During the meeting, a discussion was also held on the last month tour of Youth Congress national president Krishna Allavaru.