Sole reason for Chhattisgarh not developing is BJP: PM Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Slamming the Raman-Singh led government in Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that the sole reason that the state has not developed despite of all efforts from the Centre is because of state government.

Stating that the Congress party is committed to the development of the country, Singh said that it is because of the UPA government that development has taken place in rural areas of Chhattisgarh.

The UPA government lays particular emphasis on the importance of education, he said. "We have started new IITs and IIMs in the country to further the goal of education," he added.

Singh also hit out at BJP leaders saying, "Some leaders of BJP are using foul language against our leaders and CMs. This is just for cheap publicity."

Security personnel were put on high alert ahead of the visit of Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP's PM nominee Narendra Modi, to the poll bound Chhattisgarh state for election campaigning.

Security has been heightened across the state, particularly in the Maoist-affected Bastar region, ahead of the visit by these VIPs, Director General of Police Ramniwas said.

Amidst reports that Maoists may attack leaders in the Bastar region, security forces have been told to keep a hawk's eye on every suspicious movement, the DGP said.

Chhattisgarh has a total of 1,67,97,368 voters and 21,418 polling booths have been set up to elect a 90-member state assembly.