The interruption in power supply is a part of conspiracy by the companies which are handling the supply of power. This allegation is made by the Chief Minister Kamal Nath and other Congress leaders. Congress leaders point out that these companies were chosen by the BJP and therefore they owe their loyalty to the BJP. Obviously they are resorting to interruptions at the behest of the BJP.

Congress ministers also blame the poor quality of various equipments and cables for the recent interruptions. They point out that these were purchased during the BJP regime and BJP leaders got huge commission by purchasing poor quality equipments on higher price then prevailing in the market. Law minister PC Sharma said the government will probe the poor quality purchases and take appropriate action.

“Power cuts are a result of poor quality equipments purchased during BJP government. Substandard quality transformers and other machinery broke down which resulted in disruption of supply in parts of state. The government will investigate and take action against those responsible” Sharma said.

Power minister Priyavrat Singh alleged that equipment purchased during BJP rule were outdated and thus broke down, leading to faults. “What has been propagated by BJP as unscheduled power cuts is actually fault in the machinery purchased by the previous government. We have found major faults in transformers, cables, conductors and supply lines which are causing disruptions. There is a need to investigate the purchases” Singh told media persons.

BJP stepped up its onslaught with former power minister Paras Jain saying “The Congress government is free to prove any irregularity in purchase but it seems that the government has failed to manage the power crisis. The CM is threatening officials and ministers are blaming the previous BJP government without knowing the cause of disruption. Kamal Nath must accept failure and quit as CM”.

BJP leader Narottam Mishra said Congress leaders were “far too busy in transfer business”. “The way chief minister Kamal Nath in an open letter, appealed to the public on his government’s failure in controlling power cut reflect his inability to manage the crisis” Mishra said.

“Now after sensing a crisis, which was caused due to the negligence and poor supervision of the government, the leaders are blaming the previous BJP government. In the last 15 years, there was no power cut or disruption. This indicates there is a fault in the functioning of Congress government” Mishra said.

The BJP posted a picture on Thursday showing school education minister Prabhuram Chaudhary sitting without light in Raisen circuit house during a power cut.

Minister Sajjan Singh Verma admitted that Congress has failed to communicate its message to the public be it on farm loan waiver issue or power crisis. “During farm loan waiver officials of the cooperatives and farm welfare department could not convey the government’s message to the public in right spirit. Now during power cut, officials, Congress leaders and minister failed to communicate a clear message about efforts to maintain power supply in the state” said Verma.

Despite strained relations between the BJP and Congress at state level Chief Minister Kamal Nath met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He carried a list of several pending schemes and projects. He presented this list to the PM and requested help from the centre in overcoming several problems being faced by the state.

During the half hour meeting CM Nath congratulated the PM for winning a second term. The CM urged PM Modi to upgrade roads in the third phase of Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana and cover villages that have been left out. They will also be connected to all-weather roads, he said. Nath also drew the PM’s attention towards 20 major projects related to mineral exploration, which are pending with the Centre for approvals and permission. If these permissions are granted, the state will be able to strengthen its revenue base, he said.

The Chief Minister urged the PM to increase the wheat procurement limit from 67.25 lakh metric tonnes to 75 metric tonnes in Madhya Pradesh, pointing out that the Centre had decided on the higher side in February. On MNREGA payments, CM Nath said that approved labour budget under the scheme exhausted before January which led to 3-4 months delay in paying workers. Adequate assistance under MNREGA is needed to stem migration from Bundelkhand and Nimar due to deficient rainfall he told the PM.

Modi assured the CM that he will instruct the ministries concerned to clear pending issues promptly. He promised all possible help to Madhya Pradesh.

During his meeting with the Prime Minister Kamal Nath introduced his son Nakul Nath to the PM and requested him to bless Nakul Nath. Nakul Nath is the solitary Congress leader to be elected to the Lok Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. (IPA Service)