NHRC takes cognisance of children in Digvijaya Singh's yatra
Bhopal, October 23: The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance after a video showed children being made to shout political slogans during former chief minister Digvijaya Singh's Sanatan Yatra. The case has drawn sharp reactions from the state's ruling side, with minister Vishwas Sarang demanding accountability.
The video reportedly showed children being included in the yatra and encouraged to raise political slogans. The footage triggered a debate over the involvement of minors in political events in Madhya Pradesh.
The commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of the state. It has directed them to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry into the matter. The officials have also been asked to submit an action taken report within two weeks.
The NHRC stated that using children for political activities amounts to a violation of child rights. The commission's intervention has added weight to the demand for a thorough examination of the incident.
Sarang, who has been vocal on the issue, said that bringing girls to political programmes, applying pressure on them, and making them shout slogans is a clear violation of human rights. He also backed the commission's cognisance and questioned the Congress party's silence on the controversy.
Tying the issue to religious observance, Sarang noted that during Navratri devotees worship Shakti and during Dussehra they pledge to burn the evil represented by Ravana. He said Kanya Pujan is widely observed by followers of Sanatan across the country, making the pressure on girls to chant political slogans unacceptable.
Sarang reiterated his charge that Digvijaya Singh was undertaking the yatra to defame Sanatan and to gain political visibility. He said such efforts should not come at the cost of Sanatan's reputation.
The outcome of the inquiry and the action taken report are awaited, as the commission's directive places the responsibility of verifying the facts on the state's top administrative and police officials.