Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], September 14 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday strongly criticised state Congress chief Jitu Patwari for his remarks about officials in Narmadapuram, stating that it was an insult to all officers in the state and demanding an apology.
"Rassi jal gayi lekin bal nahi gaya (the rope is burnt but the twists remain, meaning old habits die hard). The Congress has been out of power in the state for nearly 20 years, though they briefly returned but couldn't govern effectively. Even now, the language used by Congress leaders, particularly Jitu Patwari, towards the officers and employees in Narmadapuram is an insult to all of them. He should apologise," CM Yadav said.
"The way Congress expresses itself, I believe they should reflect on their words. The officers and employees of Madhya Pradesh hold a unique reputation and work with dedication. There are many ways and platforms for politics, but such remarks are unacceptable. I think Patwari will eventually apologise," he added.
The Chief Minister also emphasised that state government officials work with dedication, and the government fully supports them.
"The officers and employees of the state government work with loyalty and diligence. The government aims to include everyone for the progress of all sections of society. We stand by our officers and employees, and no one can question their integrity or the system. They should continue to work fearlessly for the welfare of the people. The state government will carry on its work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.
Notably, Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Friday alleged that the Collector, Superintendent of Police (SP), and other officials had paid money to secure their postings in Narmadapuram.
"If a sting operation is conducted honestly on the Hoshangabad Collector (now Narmadapuram), it will reveal how much money was paid for the post. If you examine the SP, Tehsildar, Patwari, SDM, and police station heads in the district, you will find that no one gets a posting without paying money. This is the reality under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government," the Congress leader alleged.