Naxals strong in non-Congress ruled states: Ramesh

New Delhi, May 17: Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said Naxalism is strong only in those states where Congress is not in power.

"Naxalism is strong only in those states where Congress is not in power like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha among others," the Union Minister said, addressing a 'Parivartan Rally' in Bordha village of Dhar district.

Ramesh said that whenever Congress is weakened in these states, Naxalism has grown stronger.

However, he said that in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh Naxalism was not becoming strong as Congress and its organisation is stronger in the state.

Referring to alleged rampant corruption in the implementation of MNREGA scheme in Madhya Pradesh, he said under the scheme 100 days of employment is constitutionally guaranteed, but only 7-8 percent families were getting benefit of it.

Blaming the state government for poor implementation of the welfare schemes and corruption, he said, "When ponds were being constructed on papers and Sarpanchs were purchasing Bolero/Pajero (jeeps) then state government is responsible for it and not the Centre."

He said that 20-days back only the Centre sent Rs 1,700 crore to the state under MNREGA.

Ramesh also criticised the state government for levelling the allegation of meting out step-motherly treatment and clarified that the Centre never discriminates with the states on the issue of Dalits and tribals.

He also informed that in order to strengthen women self-help-groups, the Centre has reduced the interest rate on bank loans being provided to them from 14 percent to seven percent.

Addressing the rally, Ajay criticised the ruling BJP for meting out "ill-treatment" to its vice president Uma Bharti.

"We used to hear that only anti-social elements were being externed from the district concerned for their acts, but BJP externed Bharti from Madhya Pradesh after getting power," he alleged.

Ajay alleged that the Centre has given Rs 6,000 crore to the state government for development of roads but it failed to utilise the same for developing road network.