M A I N   N E W S

BJP, Jogi trade charges
Tribune News Service

Raipur, July 18
A no-holds-barred battle is on here as Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and the rival BJP are accusing each other of corruption.

While the wily Chief Minister is using all possible means, including the government machinery and patronage, the BJP is also sparing no effort to malign Mr Jogi, against whom a 63-page charter of charges of scams and corruption was released here yesterday by the BJP General Secretary, Mr Pramod Mahajan, on the eve of the three-day National Executive meeting.

Wrapped in a black cloth, the charter has listed 35 scams in which Mr Jogi and his son Amit have allegedly amassed over Rs 1000 crore.

The Chief Minister has not only described the charter as a “bundle of lies” but managed to get a vicious campaign launched against the BJP Central leaders.

With the BJP National Executive getting under way today, a big advertisement in the major newspapers here attacked the senior leadership of the party, including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP President Venkaiah Naidu.

Describing the political scene in the fledgling state, a local BJP leader said that “an aggressive Jogi (Ajit) himself is a big challenge for the BJP in the next Assembly elections”.

Going by the aggressive intent that the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister is showing towards the BJP National Executive meet here, Mr Jogi is certainly not off the mark.

Leaders here contend this is Mr Jogi’s style of functioning. He has been ruling the state with a heavy hand. Whoever opposes him “is made to face the music,” a local leader said.