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In the coal-bearing pocket of Chhattisgarh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi spoke on the coal scam.
But it was not in defence of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government nor a clarification from the Congress party. Sonia Gandhi Friday put the ball on the BJP's court over coal mines allocation.
"The BJP government in the state (Chhattisgarh) has handed over coal and steel to limited people," Sonia Gandhi said in her first election meeting in Chhattisgarh. She was addressing a mammoth gathering in Bhatgaon that had been endowed with rich coal deposits. The area comes under Sarguja Lok Sabha constituency that would go to the polls on April 24.
Without naming any corporate, Congress President lashed out at the BJP stating that it had been instrumental in allotting coal and iron ore mines to limited people.
A corporate house had been facing Congress salvo during the on-going election campaign for its alleged proximity to the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. "Even the rivers have been handed over to the persons of BJP's liking," Sonia Gandhi fumed. The UPA government introduced the land acquisition act that was a historic and ground-breaking decision, she said, adding that it had ensured justice to the tribals and checked the forceful land acquisition.
Sonia Gandhi said the UPA government was committed for the welfare of tribals while the BJP government had been acting opposite. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP government had denied land rights to the tribals, she added.
