Kamal Nath Reacts To Jyotiraditya Scindia's 'Shield And Sword' Remark

Infighting in Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress party has once again come to the fore as senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia Friday threatened to join the protest of guest teachers against the state government led by his party. Scindia said that he will be ‘shield and sword’ of guest teachers if all promises in the party's manifesto were not fulfilled. “Our manifesto promised to fulfill your demand. It is a sacred book for us. If every promise is not fulfilled, I will take to the streets with you. Don’t think you are alone,” Scindia said while addressing a gathering of guest teachers in Kundila village of Tikamgarh district.

“I want to tell the guest teachers. I heard your demand before assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. I want to assure you that your demand already stands underlined in our party’s government’s manifesto,” he added.

“But the government has its speed...Our teachers have to keep a bit of patience. Our turn will come. I assure you.  Even if does not come, don’t worry I will become our shield and sword,” he said.

Chief Minister Kamal Nath has now reacted to his remarks saying that the manifesto is for 5 months. "A manifesto is for 5 years right? Not for 5 months where the promises will be fulfiled just like that." Kamal Nath said.

The Kamal Nath government is currently struggling to fulfil its promises of farm loan waiver up to Rs 2 lakh in the state.

The government needs around Rs 50,000 crore for the farm waiver, according to officials. 

Scindia has been an open critic of the Kamal Nath government and has criticised him in the past as well.

Earlier on Thusday, Scindia said the party has to change and reach out to people with a fresh approach.

Talking to reporters at Prithvipur area, he termed the Congress’s defeat in Delhi assembly polls as ‘unfortunate’. “The country is changing. Similarly, people’s thought process is changing. We (Congress) have to change and reach out to people with a new approach,” Scindia said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won the Delhi Assembly polls by bagging 62 of the total 70 seats. While the BJP won eight seats, the Congress could not win even a single one.