Bhopal, Oct 24: Spewing venom on Vajpayee government for its "step-motherly" approach towards Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Digvijay Singh today accused BJP leaders, including Uma Bharti, of using "indecent language and baseless charges in a bid to mislead people ahead of assembly polls." "I have never seen such a mean and petty-minded government at the Centre. Madhya Pradesh is now a victim of gross discrimination by the BJP-led NDA rule and proposals for projects worth crore of rupees are gathering dust", he told reporters.

"It is shocking the east-west and north-south corridor under national highway development project does not touch Madhya Pradesh despite its geographical location, Singh said, adding "Union ministers' representing the state did not bother to promote the issue." Projects proposed to be implemented at a cost of Rs 300 crore to strengthen national highways passing through Madhya Pradesh have been lying with the Centre for a long time, while no money is being released for the central road fund whose resources have been exhausted in the state, he said.

Charging the Centre with causing huge loss to Madhya Pradesh by not revising coal royalty, Singh said the state has also suffered a loss of nearly Rs 4,000 crore following the 11th Finance Commission recommendations. Attacking the Centre for 'contradictory' remarks about Madhya Pradesh, the chief minister said: "It was unfair on the part of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to claim that progress has stopped though Union ministers' and Planning Commission have hailed its efforts."

Bureau Report