The Congress today claimed that the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh spent Rs 1.74 crore on 'aaratis' performed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during this year's Narmada conservation campaign.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajay Singh, who made the allegation, also demanded a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry into the government expenditure on the campaign.
"This is a kind of scam in the performance of aartis by the chief minister during the 'Namami Devi Narmade - Sewa Yatra'. According to RTI information, the government paid Rs 59,000 to an event management company for a single aarati performed by the chief minister at Khargone," he said.
"So, an estimated Rs 1.74 crore were spent during this 148-day campaign only on aartis, a ritual that can be performed at a cost of Rs 5-10 at home. Even the Ganga aarati performed by the prime minister would have cost less," the Congress leader said.
"A Supreme Court-monitored inquiry should be conducted in the expenditure on the Namami Devi Narmade - Sewa Yatra," Singh demanded.
The BJP dismissed his allegation as made "out of desperation as people have repeatedly rejected the Congress".
"This was the world's biggest campaign to create awareness about conservation of Madhya Pradesh's lifeline, the Narmada. A large number of people participated. The Congress is unable to digest good work," State BJP vice president Vijesh Lunawat said.
"Congress has suffered defeats repeatedly in the leader of opposition's own area. His party will again be defeated in the Chitrakoot assembly byelection next month....he should take care of his constituency (instead of making allegations)," the BJP leader added.
The Namami Devi Narmade - Sewa Yatra campaign covered a stretch of 1,831 km on the southern bank of the river, comprising 548 villages or towns, and a stretch of 1,513 km on the northern bank comprising 556 village or towns from December 2016 to May this year.
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