No problem in Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee: Scindia

Bhopal, Jan 15: Member of Parliament from Guna Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that there is no problem in giving Bharat Ratna to politicians. He was talking to media persons before flagging off Indore-Amritsar Express at Indore on Tuesday. Talking about the controversy over Bharat Ratna to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Scindia said, “I don’t see any problem in it. Being in politics also increases their chances of getting this topmost award.”

He further said that those like those in other fields, criterio are the same for politicians. Talking about Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s recent visit to FCI godown and taking stern action against officials in surprise visits to different districts, Scindia said it was all part of a game. “When assembly elections are near, such things are quite normal. Allegations for supplying substandard wheat to Madhya Pradesh, are totally baseless. Why the government not raised this issue in past four years, he asked. Scindia said that there is need for a proper blueprint of development for Madhya Pradesh which is lagging behind as compared to other states. Today the state has competition with other states and sincere efforts are needed if we want to increase the economic growth rate of Madhya Pradesh from 4 percent to 10 percent per year, Jyotiraditya said.

Attributing victories of the party in the recent by-polls in Khargone and Sanwer to the growing disenchantment and disillusionment of the people with the BJP government, Scindia hoped that the Congress will repeat similar performance in the ensuing assembly elections. Later, Minister of State for Railway Naranbhai Rathwa flagged off the Indore-Amritsar Express that would leave here on Tuesdays and start the return journey on Thursdays. State Public Works Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Mayor Umashashi Sharma, MP Sumitra Mahajan were among those present.