News Analysis India

Tag: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

  • Houses for poor on land freed from mafia, says CM Shivraj as he takes his ‘Bulldozer Mama’ avatar seriously

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL:  Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is quite serious about his ‘Bulldozer Mama’ avatar. On completing two years in office in his fourth tenure on Wednesday, Chouhan announced that houses for poor will be built on the land freed from goons and mafia in the last two years.

    “About 21,000 acres public land encroached by goons and mafia has been freed across the state in last two years. Houses for the poor will be built on this land,” Chouhan announced. 

    The properties of people involved in oppressing the poor and women “will face bulldozers”, the CM thundered while talking to reporters after participating in a bulldozer parade taken out by BJP MLA from Bhopal.

    “Normal punishment is not adequate for those who cast an evil eye on daughters, mothers and sisters. Those who oppress the poor and grab the land, get out of jail on bail. We will teach such criminals a lesson,” he said.

    According to official statistics, between April 2020 and February 28 this year, 21,212 acres of public land encroached by the goons and land sharks were freed.

    Over 750 cases were registered against 2,450 accused and the National Security Act (NSA) invoked against 188 goons for squatting on public land. 

    Lauding efforts of the government machinery during the Covid-19 pandemic, the CM said MP has to become number one state in law and order.

    “Goons, mafia and anti-socials have already been identified in many districts, now we’ve to crush them mercilessly.”

    Dacoits, naxalites and SIMI terrorists active in the state have already been eliminated. In future also, those who play with the law will not be spared in the state, he maintained. 

  • Will raze your homes with a bulldozer, MP CM warns anti-socials, criminals

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday warned anti-socials and criminal elements that he would run a bulldozer over their homes and raze it to the ground.

    The act of razing the properties of offenders in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had reportedly gained the BJP, which retained power there, a lot of support over the way it was dealing with law and order issues.

    MP Assembly polls are scheduled for late 2023. “I will raze your house to the ground. Mama’s (a term of endearment used by supporters for Chouhan) bulldozer is now out and it will not stop till all anti-socials are cornered. Stop troubling the weak or leave Madhya Pradesh, I’m warning all,” he said while addressing victims of violence in Khamaria village in neighbouring Raisen district.

    Chouhan visited Khamaria village to express grief over the death of Chandrapura-resident Raju Dhurve, who was killed in a clash over a minor issue on March 18-19.

    The incident had left at least 40 injured. The CM said atrocities against the poor and tribals will be dealt with strictly, adding that he had fulfilled his promise of clearing the state of dacoits.

    “The bulldozer of Chouhan is rolling out across MP, be it Seoni, Sheopur, Shahdol or Jaora. Everywhere, houses of anti-social elements will be razed. I assure people from ST communities I am with them. I have directed officials to come down on illegal activities heavily,” he said.

    Chouhan gave Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia payment to Dhurve’s wife and sanctioned two houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for the deceased’s father and brother, along with Rs 2,000 per month for his three kids as well.

    Chouhan, who said Dhurve’s wife will be made part of a self-employment scheme, planted a mango sapling in his memory.

    On the occasion, the CM distributed benefits of different schemes including Ladli Laxmi, loans under Aajivika Mission and PMAY plus to eligible persons.

    Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Bhopal’s Huzur seat, Rameshwar Sharma put up a hoarding warning those involved in crimes against women to be ready to face “Mama’s bulldozer”.

  • After UP’s ‘Bulldozer Baba’, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan dons role of ‘Bulldozer Mama’

    Express News Service

    BHOPAL: After the recent assembly poll success of ‘Bulldozer Baba’ (Yogi Adityanath) in UP, CM of adjoining MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan has donned the role of ‘Bulldozer Mama’.

    While hoardings and posters bearing the pictures of Shivraj Singh Chouhan as ‘Bulldozer Mama’ were put up by his supporters, including local BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma in Bhopal, around 150 km away in Khamaria village of Raisen district, the CM himself announced to accelerate his bulldozing plans against goons and mafia.

    Addressing the tribals in Khamaria village after meeting the bereaved family of Raju Adivasi (who was killed in Muslims-Tribals clash on March 18 evening), Chouhan said, “all goons and criminals in MP just hear this clearly, if you dare to put your hand on the poor and helpless, then I’ll ensure that your houses are uprooted and flattened with bulldozers.”

    “When I became the CM (in 2005), I had decided that either I will stay in MP or the dacoits will stay in the ravines of Chambal. Not even a single dacoit is left in the state now. Now it’s the time for the bulldozer to be in action against all goons and anti-social elements who are targeting the poor, helpless and women. The bulldozer has already been in action against such elements in Raisen, Seoni, Shahdol, Sheopur and Jaora, the bulldozing of houses of goons and anti-socials will continue. I’ll ensure that the existence of goons and criminals end in MP,” declared Chouhan on Tuesday.

    ALSO READ | Shivraj Singh Chouhan breaks Raman Singh’s record to become longest-serving BJP CM

    Lashing out at the opposition Congress and its state president Kamal Nath over politicising the recent clash between Muslims and tribals in Khamaria (Raisen), “we all are sad over your irreparable loss, but some others are playing politics over the death of poor by just tweeting over the issue. Let them continue tweeting as they are never among the people on the ground. I’m repeating again, all goons and anti-socials hear it clearly, this is not the Congress or Kamal Nath regime. It’s my government, Mama’s bulldozer will not stop, till the goons and anti-social elements who trouble the poor and helpless aren’t buried.”

    He also directed the local police force and forest department staff to carry out house to house searches of all those accused in the March 18 evening incident which led to young tribal Raju Adivasi’s killing.While handing over a Rs 5 lakh cheque as compensation to Raju’s widow, the CM announced that two houses (one for Raju’s father and another for his brother) will be built for which money has already been released. “Also, the little ones (son and daughter) of Raju will get Rs 2,000 monthly till they become majors,” the CM announced.

    Importantly, each of the 38 people who were hurt in the clash (over a small argument on March 18 evening) will get Rs 50,000 from the state government as relief, while three critically injured tribals have been sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each.

    According to the MP government’s official statement, in the last two years of the present regime, major bulldozing action has been initiated against massive encroachments of 29 goons, mafia and anti-social elements in at least 18 districts.

    Recently, houses and properties of men accused of the murder of tribals, gang rape and killing of girls have been bulldozed in Raisen, Shahdol, Seoni and Sheopur districts.

    The opposition Congress, meanwhile, slammed the move, accusing the BJP government of indulging in theatrics to avoid accountability. Congress state spokesperson KK Mishra said, “BJP is ruling for the past 15 years, still they are misleading people in the name of bulldozers. The government should do something to prevent these heinous crimes that are being committed against women and children every day. I feel Mama is now treading the path of Yogi (Adityanath) to save himself.” 

  • Shivraj Singh Chouhan breaks Raman Singh’s record to become longest-serving BJP CM

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: This year’s Holi is special for Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as he has achieved the distinction of being the longest-serving BJP chief minister.

    On Thursday, he broke a record which had been held by former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh.

    While Raman Singh, who was chief minister for three consecutive terms, remained in the post for fifteen years and ten days, 63-year-old Chouhan has now surpassed him.

    The Madhya Pradesh CM’s tenure, however, has not been unbroken: he was out of power for fifteen months as Congress formed government under Kamal Nath’s leadership after the 2018 Assembly polls.

    As far as Madhya Pradesh is concerned, Chouhan has another record under his belt.

    On November 19, 2015, when he completed ten years in office, he became the first non-Congress chief minister of the state to do so.

    Then he went on to become the longest-serving chief minister of MP by breaking the record of Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh who had ruled from 1993 to 2003.

    Chouhan became chief minister for the first time on November 29, 2005, after BJP leaders Uma Bharti and Babulal Gaur had to step down in a span of two years following controversies.

    He quickly consolidated his position and led the party to victories in 2008 and 2013 Assembly elections.

    But in the next election, the BJP fell short of the majority mark by a whisker and Chouhan resigned on December 12, 2018, making way for Congress’ Kamal Nath.

    Nath, however, had to step down on March 20, 2020, after his government was reduced to minority as Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress and his loyalist MLAs resigned.

    Three days later, Chouhan became chief minister for the fourth time.

    At present he seems to be firmly in saddle, but whether he will lead the party in 2023 elections is an open question as a rival has emerged in the shape of Union Civil Aviation Minister Scindia.

    State BJP spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said Chouhan’s biggest asset is his humbleness.

    “He is a successful CM because he works for people by remaining in their midst. He works for people’s welfare day in and day out,” Chaturvedi added.

    Chouhan celebrated Holi on Friday at his official residence here, greeting people with his wife Sadhana by his side.

    The chief minister smeared `gulal’ colour on visitors’ faces and was also seen dancing and singing Holi songs.

    He also planted a sapling at the Smart City Park.

  • Global Skill Park in Bhopal to be named after Sant Ravidas, announces MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: A slew of announcements by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan marked the Sant Ravidas Jayanti celebrations in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday. Just a day after he tested COVID positive, the MP CM addressed the Sant Ravidas Jayanti program in Bhopal via virtual mode.

    He made a slew of announcements, including naming the Global Skill Park (being built in Bhopal) after the 15th-16th century saint.

    “In Global Skill Park too, youth will be self-dependent after getting training in various disciplines. Here labour will be worshipped and thousands of youths will come to learn. In this institute, youths will be trained in those disciplines, which will give them immediate employment. Naming this park after Sant Shiromani Ravidas would be a real tribute to him,” Chouhan said.

    “Along with this, Sant Ravidas Swa-rozgar Yojana, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Aarthik Kalyan Yojana and Mukhyamantri Anusuchit Jati Vishesh Pariyojana Vitta Poshan Yojana will be started to provide employment to the youths. Sant Ravidas community buildings will be constructed in scheduled caste dominated areas of every district of the state.”

    “Under the Sant Ravidas Swa-rozgar Yojana, a loan assistance of Rs One lakh to Rs 50 lakh will be provided to the scheduled caste youths for setting up a manufacturing unit. Interest subsidy at the rate of 5 percent will be given for the project. Similarly, for service sector and retail trade also, there will be a provision of loan from Rs one lakh to Rs 25 lakh in the scheme. The schemes will be operated through Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Scheduled Caste and Development Corporation,” the CM announced further.

    “Under the Mukhyamantri Anusuchit Jati Vishesh Pariyojana Vitta Poshan Yojana, a grant of up to Rs 2 crore would be given to the youths of the Scheduled Castes for self-employment, skill up-gradation, promotion and innovation. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Aarthik Kalyan Yojana is being started with the objective of providing loans up to Rs One lakh for low cost equipment or working capital to the micro, small and medium scale industries already established by the beneficiaries of the scheduled caste category. The schemes will be operated through Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Scheduled Caste and Development Corporation.”

  • As COVID cases dip in Madhya Pradesh, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan says all curbs, except night curfew, lifted

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Friday that all COVID-19 curbs, barring night curfew, were being lifted across the state due to the fall in cases.

    Taking to Twitter, he said, “Keeping in view the continuous fall in cumulative positivity rate and active cases of COVID-19, all the curbs imposed have been eased. All the social, commercial, cultural, political, religious, entertainment, sports activities and fairs in MP will be held with full capacity.”

    The CM informed that schools, colleges, and hostels can function at full capacity, while attendance limits for weddings and funerals were being removed.

    Since the pandemic had not ended completely, curfew between 11pm and 5am will continue, he said, and asked people to wear masks and adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour.

    As on Friday, MP’s caseload stood at 10,21,361, with the positivity rate being 3.4 per cent, down from 3.67 per cent a day earlier.

  • COVID: Digvijaya, others booked for protest near Shivraj Chouhan’s residence

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh and some two dozen others were booked on Saturday for COVID-19 norms violation in connection with a sit-in protest held near Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s residence a day earlier, a police official said.

    They were charged under Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) for holding a dharna, said Shyamla Hills police station in charge Tarun Bhati.

    Singh on Friday staged a protest near CM Chouhan’s residence here to highlight the plight of the people affected by Tem and Suthalia irrigation projects, and had alleged that the latter was not giving him an appointment to discuss the matter.

    Singh was marching towards the CM’s residence when police had stopped him, after which he began a sit-in protest on the spot.

    The protest was called off some four hours later after Singh received an assurance of an appointment with the CM on Sunday.

  • PM Modi’s security breach: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan targets Congress high command

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a scathing attack on the opposition Congress party over the January 5 security breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy.

    Citing a sting operation aired by a news channel in the matter on Wednesday, Chouhan alleged that the security breach wasn’t spontaneous or coincidental, but was sponsored and a part of gory conspiracy.

    He also alleged that the disgusting act was carried out by the Punjab government at the behest of the Congress high command.

    The highly sensitive issue of the PM’s convoy’s security breach is being trivialized by the Congress and its leaders, including Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu and Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel through ridiculous remarks.

    “Such light comments clearly suggest a Congress hand behind the entire security breach,” the MP CM alleged further.

    Targeting the Congress high command in the matter, Chouhan sought answers from AICC president Sonia Gandhi on a series of questions.

    “Madam (Sonia Gandhi) will have to reply, why Punjab Police remained a mute spectator, even as the PM’s security was being messed up. Why was the Punjab chief secretary and DGP not present in the PM’s fleet?  Despite police presence, how did the protestors gather at the road in such a short time and why wasn’t action taken against them? How did the protestors come to know about the PM’s route plan? Why wasn’t the Punjab CM responding to multiple phone calls after the incident? All this clearly suggests that the incident is linked to the Congress high command,” Chouhan said.

    Reacting to the MP CM’s attack on the Congress high command over the PM’s convoy security breach, the MP Congress president and leader of opposition in the State Assembly Kamal Nath said, “When a committee headed by a former judge has already been constituted on the directions of the Supreme Court to probe the Ferozpur incident, then indulging in the political blame game is not right.”

  • MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches UP BJP’s Jan Vishvas Yatra in Ballia district

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Just five days after his visit to Varanasi and Ayodhya, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was back in assembly poll-bound Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

    Chouhan launched one of the six Jan Vishvas Yatras of the UP BJP. 

    He launched the Yatra in Ballia district — the land of the country’s freedom movement revolutionaries Mangal Pandey and Chittu Pandey.

    Accompanied among other UP BJP leaders,  including state BJP president Swatantra Deo Singh and state’s minister Dara Singh Chouhan, the Yatra was welcomed across Ballia district by BJP workers, who shouted slogans Mamaji ka Swagat Hai and Jai Ho Mama to welcome the MP CM.

    The yatrra will travel through large part of East UP, including Mau, Azamgarh, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar districts before culminating in Basti. It will travel through that region of East UP, which is considered UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s bastion.

    Five other Jan Vishvas Yatras started from other parts of UP, including Jhansi, Mathura, Bijnor, Ghazipur and Ambedkar Nagar districts.

    The Yatra is being seen as the reply to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s Vijay Rath Yatra and Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s Pratigya Yatra. It aims at spreading among people the good governance of Yogi Adityanath government in UP as well as turn a perfect warm up system for the BJP rank and file across the state.

    In his signature style, Chouhan explained how Modi and Yogi represented strong leadership and governance in UP.

    Chouhan is expected to play a major role in poll campaign in UP in the coming months. 

    The role of BJP politicians from MP in UP Assembly poll campaigning assumes more significance, as around 10-15 UP districts housing 50-60 assembly constituencies are bordered by BJP-ruled MP’s Vindhya, Bundelkhand and Gwalior-Chambal regions.

    According to informed political sources, the Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too has asked his party’s MP unit to send leaders for the grand old party’s campaigning in UP in the coming weeks.

  • Stay number one in executing Central govt schemes: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan tells ‘Team MP’

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a meeting of chief ministers and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level meeting of cabinet ministers and top bureaucrats of the state in Bhopal on Wednesday evening.

    Chouhan was back to work with his ministerial colleagues and top bureaucrats, with the clarion call, “take MP forward rapidly, try to stay number one in central government schemes by working on the instructions of PM Modi. Work on priority for both Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living.”

    He said that ‘Team Madhya Pradesh’ should work day and night for the people. “Our priority is to control Covid by doing all necessary work. All arrangements should be appropriate. No person should go without getting vaccinated. Complete the target of the second dose on time.”

    He added that all departments should utilize their budget on time. “The budget amount of those departments that are unable to spend the money, will be given to other departments.”

    While making it clear that the state should be number one in implementing all central government schemes, Chouhan said “as soon as any new scheme of the central government is launched, we should pay attention to it immediately. Extra efforts should be made for revenue collection. Revenue is the basis of the development of the state. Revenue collection meetings should be held every week as the progress of the state depends on it. Try through experts to increase revenue. Maximize revenue collection.”

    He said that the issue of diversification of agriculture is very important. Speedy efforts should be made for the cultivation of different crops.

    Chouhan further said that a roadmap should be made for development, and targets must be set and completed within the time-limit. Revenue should increase, quality of work must improve. There should be no delay in infrastructure works. If quality work is not completed on time, action should be taken by imposing a penalty. Efforts should be made to increase trade, investment and employment. Self employment opportunities must be made available.

    There should be focus on exports to bring in foreign exchange. Work should be done for “Ek Zila Ek Utpad”. Raw materials, agricultural products can be exported. Attention is must on the startup area. Work should be done by focusing on Atmanirbhar Bharat Nirman Yojana and Rozgar Yojana.

    He laid particular stress on speedy work on the PM Gati Shakti Project. Work should be done in a shared vision with the central government in the field of better coordination and infrastructure.

    Further preparations should be made to prepare master plans of cities. Cities cannot be planned without a master plan. The ministers-in-charge and the concerned officers should prepare the master plan for the districts under their charge. Also work must be done for the pride of the city.

    While maintaining that the Ayushman Bharat scheme can bring revolution in the lives of the people, the CM stressed on implementing it by making it better and effective. In private hospitals, work should be done effectively to get the benefits of this scheme to the card holders.

    Efforts should be made for road connectivity, drinking water, Ujjwala gas connection, electricity, Ayushman card and employment. Bring revolution to create a self-reliant family. No one should be deprived of basic facilities. People should have bank accounts also to make ration available to the eligible persons. Awareness in insurance and pension schemes should be increased.

    He further said that focus should be made on PM Swanidhi Yojana. “We are number one in Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Swanidhi Yojana including Matruvandana and Sukanya Yojana.”