Chaos & lies prevail in state: Ex-CM

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur launched a scathing attack on the state government, alleging that poor governance had virtually collapsed the administrative system instead of improving it. Addressing a public meeting at Sarakarh in the Sujanpur Constituency on Sunday, Thakur claimed there was “chaos and panic all around”, while the CM was attempting to portray an illusion of normalcy through “false propaganda and misleading claims”.

Thakur said the Chief Minister’s repeated statements accusing the previous BJP government of failing to bring development were baseless. “In just three years, the present government has shut down institutions established by the BJP and stalled ongoing development projects,” he asserted. Citing figures, he said that over two dozen institutions had been closed in the five Assembly constituencies of the district, while thousands more were shut down across the state, leaving numerous projects incomplete.

“The least this government could have done was to complete the schemes initiated by our government. Instead, it has taken the state backwards. For the first time, we have a Chief Minister who takes satisfaction in closing facilities, harassing people, and spreading misinformation,” Thakur remarked.

While maintaining that he did not enjoy criticising individuals, Thakur said it was his constitutional duty as Leader of Opposition to raise public issues.

He accused the Chief Minister of blaming the Central Government to divert attention from his own failures, adding that the Centre had extended substantial relief and development funds to the state. Thakur also criticised the delay in disbursal of payments under social welfare schemes such as Sahara Pension, Old Age Pension and Shagun Yojna and said that the Him Care Card, once providing Rs 5 lakh health coverage to poor families, was no longer functional.