CM's plan to teach Gita in schools faces opposition

No sooner did the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that Hindu religious text Bhagwad Geeta would be taught in schools in the state, than there has been a strong protest to the decision.

Apart from minorities' leaders, mainstream politicians, educationists, social workers and even religious gurus have said that state should not interfere in education and let it remain secular.

There is a concern that the BJP is trying to appease the majority community just for electoral gains. Senior journalist LS Hedenia has said that it is an un-constitutional decision and after this announcement, Chouhan should quit his post.

Christian leaders have said that if, at all, Geeta is to be brought in the school curriculum, then similarly excerpts from the religious books of other communities should also be added to the syllabus, and not just one religion.

Social activist Deepa Pohankar said that children would get away from schools and thus it is not advisable to issue such an order. Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee leader Giani Dilip Singh has said that is not proper to ignore kids of other religions who study in the government schools.

[Photo screen shot courtesy: Dainik Bhaskar, November 20]

Flag Dishonour Case: Case, Arrest warrant against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, later stay granted

A court issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj for dishonour of national flag.

A private complained was filed in the court in Nasrullaganj in Sehore. The JMFC issued the warrants against four persons including the Chief Minister and BJP MP Sushma Swaraj.

The two other persons included BJP leader R Bhati and former collector Sandeep Yadav. At a public meeting almost a year ago, a girl dressed as 'bharat mata' had welcomed these dignitaries.

She was carrying the tricolour, which was upside down. The complainant, in his 'istighasa', had also presented photographs of the event that showed flag upside down in the presence of CM and the three others.

The report of the arrest warrant caused flutter in the BJP as a case of insult to national flag had earlier cost Uma Bharti her chief ministership. But to the party leaders' relief, later in the day the stay was however obtained. A sessions court granted stay on execution of the arrest warrants by the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class Zafar Iqbal.

Congress wins Harda municipal election, BJP alarmed

HARDA The unexpected victory of Congress in Harda municipal election where its candidate won the post of president has alarmed the BJP. Sangeeta Bansal's win against the ruling party candidate Sadhna Jain has come as a surprise.

The biggest worry for the party is that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had campaigned extensively in the election but the party still lost. This is the first such victory of Congress in any local body or assembly election in state after a long time.

Theories doing rounds include anger against Kamal Patel apart from a rumour that the former minister didn't took active interest as he wanted to show his clout after denial of cabinet berth following clean chit in the Durgesh Jat case.

BJP can't afford to be complacent anymore. The tide can turn against it. With the party in its second term, anti-incumbency is always a factor. But if there has been a sabotage then the party must take strong decisions and act fast. Congress president Kantilal Bhuria must be a relieved man now.

Tainted IAS officer Tinu Joshi's photo on hoarding ruins Foundation Day celebration in Madhya Pradesh

It seems there is no end to controversies for the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh.

On the foundation day, a hoarding created flutter in the state politics. It showed photographs of women who made a name for themselves in different fields.

Ironically, it carried photograph of disgraced IAS officer Tinoo Joshi who along with her husband Arvind Joshi are facing corruption case for amassing wealth worth hundreds of crores.

In place of Nirmala Buch, Tinoo's photo was mistakenly printed. But was it really a mistake or a deliberate attempt to tarnish government's image.

BJP leaders say that this hoarding was put up at the behest of the opposition or some Congress leaders in their individual capacity. Perhaps, it was a mistake by a person who didn't recognize either Nirmala Buch or Tinu Joshi, and Googled but found wrong image search results, and put it up on banner without cross-checking it.

Uma Bharti, Jamuna Devi Subhadra Kumari Chouhan, Gul Bardhan, Shalini Tami Moghe were the other 'gauravshali betiyan' or daughters of Madhya Pradesh on whom people of the state could feel pride. Tinoo Joshi found place in this select group.

BJP leader terms CM, ministers as 'Ghoshna-Vir' or 'Men who Merely Make Announcements'

Report published in Dainik Bhaskar

For the BJP it was a big embarrassment. The state vice-president Raghunandan Sharma called Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a 'ghoshna-veer' or a person who was master at making announcements only.

Sharma who is a Rajya Sabha MP had attacked party leaders for their failure to rein in bureaucrats. He made teh controversial comments from public stage. The party leaders were red-faced after the news was published and channels aired his remarks. So he meant CM, ministers make tall promises but don't fulfill them.

Now he has been removed from his post and asked to explain his stand. Sharma said that his criticism was positive and he spoke truth, which hurt others but his intention was not to make fun of the party leaders. Shouldn't BJP tolerate criticism and use it for inward looking, introspection and inter-party democracy?