Raipur: Political tensions in Chhattisgarh have intensified as a bitter confrontation has emerged between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress over the renaming of government schemes. The BJP government, led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, recently changed the names of two key schemes initially named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, sparking criticism from Congress leaders.
On September 18, the state government issued an official order to rename the Rajiv Gandhi Swavalamban Yojana to the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Swavalamban Yojana, and the Rajiv Gandhi Livelihood Centre Scheme to the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Livelihood Centre Scheme. This decision, uploaded on the government’s website on September 30, has caused a fierce backlash from the opposition.
According to officials, these schemes had originally been named after BJP ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. However, during the tenure of the previous Congress government under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in 2019, the schemes were renamed in honour of Rajiv Gandhi.
State Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sai defended the move, stating, “These schemes were originally named after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and we are simply restoring the names.”
The Congress, however, strongly condemned the renaming. Sushil Anand Shukla, chief of the Congress communication wing, criticised the BJP’s actions, accusing them of lacking originality. “The BJP government has no new schemes of its own. It is resorting to changing the names of successful initiatives implemented by the Congress government,” Shukla stated.
The renaming of these schemes is the latest flashpoint in an already charged political environment, with both parties gearing up for upcoming elections in the state.
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