no plans of returning to the Congress

Raipur, July 19: Janata Congress Chhattisgarh founder and former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi said on Wednesday that he had no plans of returning to the Congress.

He was responding to a statement by newly appointed Congress party in-charge P.L. Punia, who said Jogi will be welcomed if he rejoins the Congress.

"Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel kept saying that many big faces from Janata Congress are in touch with the Congress and will join it soon. I will say this with certainty that big faces not only from the Congress but also from the BJP are in touch with Janata Congress and will join us soon," Jogi told reporters here.

He welcomed Jagdish Kalash, former president of the Public Works Department, and Raipur Municipal Corporation President Tejkumar Bajaj's entry to his party. Both Kalash and Bajaj have resigned from the Congress.

"I was associated with the Congress for 35 years. But I was not given importance after Baghel became the state president. He publicly insults senior leaders and doesn't even invite them for any program," Kalash said.

Bajaj added: "I have been an active member of the Congress for 30 years. Instead of respect, the party has insulted me.

Jogi accused the BJP government in Chhattisgarh of taking away farmers' money in the name of insurance. "This has become an annual scam of Rs 600 crore. Corruption is at its peak."

He said that a tribal farmer, Manthir Dhruv from Bagbahara, gave Rs 4,000 as a premium for his crop. After his crop got destroyed, he got only Rs 40 as insurance money. He committed suicide due to this.