New Delhi: Chhattisgarh minister TS Singh Deo, locked in a turf war with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, resigned from the Panchayat and Rural Development department on Saturday (July 16, 2022) alleging that not a single house was built for the homeless. . The funds were not allocated by the CM despite “repeated requests” in the form of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Singh Deo, however, will continue to be the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education, Twenty Point Implementation and Commercial Tax (GST) departments.
Criticizing the Baghel government ahead of the assembly elections in the Congress-ruled state, he said that houses could not be built for eight lakh people in the state, though providing houses to the homeless poor was an important promise in the Congress’ election manifesto.
The sudden development is seen as the bitter result of an old political rivalry between Baghel and Singh Deo, who were seeking the chief minister’s post under an alleged power-sharing pact.
In a four-page resignation letter addressed to the chief minister, Singh Deo, citing various reasons, said that he was unable to meet the goals of the department as per the approach of Jan Ghoshna Patra (Election Manifesto) given the “current scenario”. ,
He said that despite his request, funds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) were not sanctioned, as a result of which houses for eight lakh people could not be built in the state.
“Despite my repeated requests, funds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana were not allocated, resulting in not building houses for 8 lakh people. Providing homes to the homeless poor was an important promise in the election manifesto. But In the present government did not build a single house for the homeless and the progress of the scheme was zero.”
Chhattisgarh minister TS Singhdev resigned from the post of Panchayat and Rural Development Minister of the state pic.twitter.com/eG7oiIocMl— ANI (@ANI) 16 July 2022
The Ambikapur MLA also claimed that the rules under the Panchayat Extension (PESA) Act for Scheduled Areas were drafted by his department and sent to a committee without taking them into confidence.
A committee of secretaries was constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary against the standard protocol to give final approval to the works under the Chief Minister’s Samagra Gramin Vikas Yojana. He said that the power to approve the works of any department rests with the minister concerned.
“I have objected to the formation of this committee, but it went in vain due to which development works worth more than Rs 500 crore could not be implemented,” he said.
In June last year, differences between Baghel and Singh Deo escalated after Baghel completed his midterm in office. The fresh flash point between Baghel and Singh Deo looks like coal mine projects in the Hasdeo Arand forest area of Surguja district.
Singh Deo had visited the Hasdeo Arand area in support of locals protesting coal mining and had announced that he would hit with the first bullet or stick if the protesters were subjected to bullets and sticks. Baghel, however, tried to paper over the cracks by saying that not a single branch would be cut if Singh Deo did not want trees to be cut for coal mine projects.
Meanwhile, BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya also slammed the oldest party and said it is Punjab again.
“It’s Punjab again for the Congress in Chhattisgarh. Just before the elections next year, senior leader TS Singh Deo has resigned from all but the portfolio of the health minister. He is clearly swayed by Bhupesh Baghel to cover the media or Stopping them from inviting them to events,” he wrote on Twitter.
It is Punjab again for the Congress in Chhattisgarh. Just before the elections next year, senior leader TS Singh Deo has resigned from all departments except the health minister. Apparently he is upset with Bhupesh Baghel stopping the media from covering or inviting him to events. — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) 16 July 2022
Chhattisgarh BJP president Vishnu Deo Sai said that Singh Deo’s leaving the ministry proved Baghel’s “dictatorial attitude”. He alleged that Baghel was not allowing his cabinet colleagues to discharge their duties freely.
“Singh Deo should also resign from other departments if he is not being sidelined and not allowed to do his job,” Sai said.
(with agency input)