BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who oversaw the turn-around of Madhya Pradesh as the sunrise State for agriculture in his three-term tenure as chief minister, was fielded by the ruling party to describe Congress President Rahul Gandhi as a “habitual and a shameless liar” who has conned the people of MP with false promises of farm-loan waivers.

Simultaneously, the former MP CM, who has reportedly been asked by the BJP to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Bhopal against Congress’ Digvijaya Singh, seemed disinclined to do it.

“I want to work in Madhya Pradesh… Our rights are secure with the party but I want to work in MP. Isliye iqrar bhi nahin hai aur inkar bhi nahin hai (I am not saying yes and I am not saying no). It is up to the party,” said Chouhan, who seems to be more interested in staying in MP as Leader of Opposition than joining the central BJP as Vice-President.

About the farm loan waivers that the Congress President had announced in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh during the Assembly elections campaign last year, Chouhan said a “fraud” has been done. He played video clips of Gandhi telling people that farm loan waivers will be implemented within 10 days of the Congress coming to power in these States.

“Rahul Gandhi is a habitual and shameless liar. In M.P., he told the people that he would waive off farm loans up to ₹2 lakh within 10 days. Now it is 104 days, I can say with responsibility that the loans of the farmers of MP have not been waived.” The day Model Code of Conduct came in, the MP Chief Minister sent a message to farmers: “Your Jai Kisan Farm Loan waiver application has been received. Because of the code, your application cannot proceed. After the elections, it will be cleared.” The code clearly says that any ongoing scheme that has identified beneficiaries will continue. This is why the PM Kisan funds are being distributed, said Chouhan.

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