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Attacks, counter attacks vitiate MP politics

By L.S. Herdenia. Dated: 9/8/2018 2:30:32 PM

Hostile crowds force ministers to curtail public appearance

From the manner in which incidents of political nature are being reported from various areas of Madhya Pradesh there is every reason to apprehend that November Vidhan Sabha elections may not be entirely peaceful affair.
Things are taking such a serious turn that even ministers and important leaders of BJP are not allowed to attend their public engagements. Perhaps because of security threat, security Chief Minister Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan has stopped using his "Rath" for the Ashirvad Yatra and is now using helicopter and highly secure cavalcade to complete his yatra.
According to a report from Gwalior, anti-quota supporters gheraoed BJP state in-charge and Rajya Sabha member Vinay Sahasabudhe during the party's election management committee meeting. Cabinet ministers Maya Singh, Kushwaha and Bhind MP Bhagirath Prasad were also present when the anti-quota brigade showed up. There were also attempts by volunteers to show black flags to Sahasabudhe.
Most of the ministers and BJP leaders in Gwalior-Chambal region have refused to attend party meetings and public programmes to avoid being gheraoed, say sources. BJP state president Rakesh Singh says the issue of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act is very sensitive and political rivals like Congress are trying to instigate disturbance. He asked people to maintain calm.
Up in arms against the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act amendment bill, activists of Samanya Pichada Evam Alpsankhyak Varg Adikari Karmchari Sangh (SAPAKS), an outfit raising issues of upper castes, presented bangles to Gwalior mayor on 5th September.
Taking no chances, the state administration geared up to maintain law and order during the 'bandh' and clamped the Section 144 in many districts of Chambal, Gwalior, Vindhya and Sagar divisions. Police deployed 34 companies of the state armed forces (SAF). Over 6,000 newly recruited police personnel have also been deployed. Police took out a flag march in several districts on 5th September evening.
With protests getting shriller, two local leaders of the ruling party resigned from their posts in the last two days. Sheopur district unit treasurer Naresh Jindal and assistant media in-charge in Niwari mandal of Tikdamgarh district Brajesh Tiwari resigned to express solidarity with the protestors.
The political climate took tense turn after BJP leader, including chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, levelled baseless charges against Congress. A small incident of stone throwing and hurling chappals at Chouhan was blown out of proportion and described as attempt to murder. Incidentally the incident took place at Churhat in Sidhi district, where leader of opposition Ajay Singh wields great influence. Ajay Singh represents this constituency in the Vidhan Sabha. Before that his illustrious father Arjun Singh represented this constituency till his death.
Simply because these incidents took place in Sidhi district, the chief minister, home minister and other BJP leaders accused Ajay Singh of hatching a conspiracy to kill the chief minister. The CM launched a blistering attack on Congress saying never before in Madhya Pradesh was a chief minister attacked during his election yatra.
Perhaps Chouhan is not aware that Pt. D. P. Mishra was attacked many times and at many places in the public meetings on the eve of 1967 elections. He was 'greeted' with stones, rotten tomatoes and eggs. During that period Mishra was facing tough opposition from the Jansangh and Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia. Congress workers were not allowed to enter many Vidhan Sabha constituencies in which Rajmata and Janasangh commanded influence. Despite stiff opposition Congress under the leadership of Mishra won the elections.
Reacting to BJP's claim of conspiracy, opposition leader Rahul Singh challenged the government to prove his involvement in the incident, as alleged by the home minister. When media persons asked R. K. Shukla, DG Police about the allegations against Rahul Singh, he said that he would wait for the findings of the investigation.
BJP has also launched an attack on Digvijay Singh alleging that he has links with Naxalites. Leading the attack, Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged Congress to expel Digvijaya Singh for "Maoist connections". Digvijaya hit back by daring the government to arrest him.
Retweeting social media posts on Digvijaya's contact number being found in a letter seized from one of the "urban Maoists", Chouhan said reports of 'Digvijaya Singh's nexus with Maoists' was a matter of concern. Digvijaya responded with equal aggression saying "if I have such connections, then the government should arrest me now. I challenge the Union and state governments that if I am involved, they should start the arrest proceedings immediately".
In another incident BJP MLA Uma Devi Khatik's son Princedeep Lalchandra stirred a hornet's nest by threatening to shoot Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia. Princeedeep, who is a member of ABVP, issued his threat in a Facebook post "Jyotiraditya Scindia, the blood of Jiwajirao, who killed Rani of Jhansi runs in your veins. If you try to enter Upkashi hatta and desecrate it I will shoot you. Either I will die or you will".
The incident happened two days before Scindia was due to hold a rally in Hatta constituency. Local Congress workers have registered an FIR.
--(IPA Service)