News Analysis India

Tag: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

  • Rani Kamalapati was married to Muslim, BJP renamed station to mislead people: Congress MP Rajmani Patel

    By PTI

    REWA: Congress Rajya Sabha member Rajmani Patel has claimed Rani Kamalapati was married to a Muslim person and that a railway station in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh was renamed after the Gond queen to mislead the people.

    Earlier this month, while announcing the renaming of the renovated Habibganj railway station in the state capital after Rani Kamalapati, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had hailed her as the pride of the Gond community and “the last Hindu queen of Bhopal”.

    However, Patel, while talking to reporters here on Saturday, claimed the tribal queen had befriended a Muslim commander and sought his help to attack (others), but later took ‘Jal Samadhi’ after having a “love affair” with him.

    “The name of a station in Bhopal was changed to mislead the people. It was renamed after the last tribal queen (of Bhopal) Rani Kamalapati. The common people don’t know who Rani Kamalapati was? She was a tribal. Whom she married? She was married to a Muslim. Now, ask (Prime Minister) Modi ji if she was pure Hindu or pure Musalman,” he said.

    The Congress leader also accused the BJP of dividing the society in the name of Hindu and Muslim and changing the history to seek votes.

    “You all know what was the character of Raja-Maharajas. I don’t want to go into what Raja Maharajas did to the country,” he said.

    Asked if Kamalapati was a Muslim, Patel said let them (BJP) clarify, and claimed that children of BJP leaders also got married to members of the Muslim community.

    Earlier this month, Chouhan had said Rani Kamalapati’s kingdom was usurped by Afghan commander Dost Mohammed by deceit through a conspiracy.

    “When she saw that victory was not possible, she committed ‘Jal Jauhar’ (ritual suicide) to save her honour,” the CM had said.

    Her son Naval Shah was killed at Lalghati, a part of today’s Bhopal, he had noted.

    In a letter to the Centre before the Habibganj railway station’s renaming, the Madhya Pradesh government had said Rani Kamalapati was married to Nizam Shah, the son of Ginnorgarh ruler Suraj Singh Shah.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the revamped Kamalapati Railway station in Bhopal on November 15.

  • Congress taught wrong history to glorify Gandhi, Nehru and Indira: Shivraj

    Chouhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for declaring 'Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas' to mark the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, a tribal icon.

  • Patalpani railway station in Indore to be named after tribal icon Tantya Bhil: Madhya Pradesh CM Chouhan

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Continuing the tribal outreach and accusing Congress of crediting only one family for achieving Independence, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced to name Patalpani railway station in Indore and two other landmarks in that city after tribal icon Tantya Bhil.

    Notably, Bhopal’s Habibganj railway station was recently named after Rani Kamalapati, a tribal queen.

    Accusing the previous governments of ignoring the tribal history, Chouhan on Monday said that Indore’s Bhanwar Kuan intersection and MR 10 bus stand, being developed at the cost of Rs 53 crore, will also be named after Tantya Bhil.

    “Like Bhopal’s Rani Kamalapati station, Patalpani railway station (in Indore district) will be named after Tantya Bhil, who had sacrificed his life,” Chouhan said while addressing a tribal gathering, marking the conclusion of the week-long ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ celebrations.

    ALSO READ: Madhya Pradesh’s new excise policy will help tribals, says CM Chouhan

    On the occasion of the ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ on November 15, which was observed on the birth anniversary of revered tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken a veiled swipe at Congress saying previous governments had ignored the history and contribution of tribals.

    Chouhan said tribes in the country and Madhya Pradesh have a glorious past and tribal heroes played a very important role in the freedom struggle.

    The British had made all efforts to end the pride of our tribes.

    The state government will restore that pride, he added.

    “The history about the contribution of the Gondwana kingdom in the freedom struggle and battle against the Mughals was not taught properly. The wrong history about the freedom struggle was taught and they talked only about one family saying we got freedom because of Nehru ji (Jawaharlal Nehru) and Indira ji (Indira Gandhi). The contribution of tribal icons like Raja Shankar Shah, Raghunath Shah, Tantya Mama (Bhil), Bhima Nayak was never told,” he alleged.

    Chouhan said “petty and false” cases against tribals will be withdrawn.

    “Youngsters from tribal communities would be trained so that they can clear the competitive Army recruitment exams,” he said.

    The CM said a medical college will be opened in Mandla in the name of king Hirde Shah, a freedom fighter.

    Known as the “Indian Robin Hood” by tribals, Tantya Bhil is hailed as one of the revolutionaries who waged an armed struggle against the British rule for 12 years.

    It is said that Tantya used to loot the treasuries of the British government and distribute the wealth among the poor.

  • Madhya Pradesh’s new excise policy will help tribals, says CM Chouhan

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL:  A week after PM Modi launched a series of tribal-centric initiatives at the start of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday travelled to tribal-dominated Mandla district to attend the valedictory of the week-long celebrations.

    Attending the event at Ramnagar Mandla, Chouhan also performed ground-breaking of development works worth over Rs 600 crore. He announced that tribals would be given the right to manage community forest. Chouhan also said the government is formulating a new excise policy, in which the tribal community will be able to make liquor traditionally from Mahua. The right to sell this heritage liquor will also be given to the tribals.

    The chief minister also announced that the primary health centre at Manpur in Indore will be named as Tantya Bhil Health Centre in memory of the tribal hero. 

  • Madhya Pradesh: All coronavirus-related restrictions withdrawn; CM says pandemic is under control

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: All coronavirus-related restrictions in Madhya Pradesh have been withdrawn with immediate effect, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced here on Wednesday.

    “There is complete control over the COVID-19 pandemic in Madhya Pradesh. So, we have decided to withdraw all the restrictions imposed during the pandemic with immediate effect,” he said in a statement.

    “Now all social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural and religious events can be held with full capacity,” he added.

    But it will be mandatory for government employees, shopkeepers/vendors, and employees of cinema halls to be completely vaccinated, while movie-goers must have had at least one dose of anti-coronavirus vaccines, Chouhan said.

    The COVID-19 situation in the state is under control as only five new cases were detected on Wednesday and the number of active cases fell to 78, he said.

    Processions will be allowed and there would be no restrictions on the number of people attending marriages and funerals, either.

    Night curfew has been withdrawn while cinema halls, shopping malls, swimming pools, gyms, yoga centres, restaurants and clubs will be able to run at full capacity.

    Schools, colleges, hostels, coaching classes too can have full attendance, Chouhan said. At fairs, vendors who have had both shots of vaccine will be allowed to put up stalls. “Both the doses are required for students above 18 years, besides staff at hostels and schools. At cinema halls, the staff should be fully vaccinated while the audience members should have had at least one dose of vaccine,” the statement said.

    But people must follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, wear masks and maintain social distancing besides getting vaccinated, he said. Being fully vaccinated will be mandatory for government employees.

    “Over 91 per cent people in the state have got the first dose of the vaccine while only 47 per cent have got both the doses. I appeal the people to get both the doses and cooperate with health officials,” the chief minister said.

  • Cows, their dung, urine can help strengthen economy: MP CM Shivraj Chouhan

    By ANI

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that cows, their dung and urine can help strengthen the economy of the state and the country.

    “Cows, their dung and urine can help strengthen the economy of the state and the country if a proper system is put in place. I am confident that we will be successful in this one day,” said Chouhan.

    Chouhan made the comments while addressing a ‘Shakti 2021’ convention of the women’s wing of the Indian Veterinary Association in Bhopal.

    “Many things are being made now with the cow dung and urine. In some cremation grounds in Madhya Pradesh, people are using cow dung instead of wood,” he added.

  • Habibganj rail station renamed after Gond queen Rani Kamlapati: MP CM Chouhan ahead of PM Modi visit 

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: The “most modern” Habibganj railway station in Bhopal has been renamed after Gond queen Rani Kamlapati, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this decision.

    Chouhan hailed Rani Kamlapati as the pride of the Gond community and the last Hindu queen of Bhopal, whose kingdom was usurped by Afghan commander Dost Mohammed by deceit.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to dedicate this renamed railway station, redeveloped with modern airport-like amenities, on November 15, when he is visiting the MP capital to address a tribal convention to mark ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ in remembrance of tribal icon and freedom fighter Birsa Munda.

    People of Madhya Pradesh are thankful to the Prime Minister for renaming the Habibganj railway station after Rani Kamlapati, the Gond queen of Bhopal, the CM said in a statement.

    He said the PM has enhanced the glory of tribals by renaming the most-modern railway station of the country after the Gond queen.

    “Rani Kamlapati is the pride of the Gond community and the last Hindu queen of Bhopal.

    Her kingdom was usurped by Afghan commander Dost Mohammed by deceit under a conspiracy.

    When she saw that victory was not possible, she committed ‘Jal Jauhar’ (a practice of committing suicide) to save her respect,” Chouhan stated.

    He said Rani Kamlapati’s son Naval Shah had been killed at Lalghati, a part of Bhopal.

    The Madhya Pradesh government had on Friday written to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for renaming the upgraded Habibganj railway station stating that it will honour the legacy and bravery of the widow of the Gond ruler of Nizam Shah.

    “She was the last Hindu queen of Bhopal. Habibganj railway station has been named ‘Rani Kamlapati’ after her. It is a matter of great satisfaction and joy for me. Prime minister shri Narendra Modi I thank you from my heart,” Chouhan tweeted. 

    The Gond community comprises the largest tribal group of India with more than 1.2 crore population.

    On Thursday, BJP MP from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur had demanded that the Habibganj station be renamed after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

    Rani Kamlapati railway station is located in Bhopal city and part of the West Central Railway.

    It is said that Rani Kamlapati was the widow of the Gond ruler of Nizam Shah, the chief of Ginnorgarh.

    The Kamlapati Palace overlooking the Upper and Lower lakes in Bhopal is named after the Gond queen.

  • Grieving parents contest Bhopal hospital blaze toll; political slugfest starts

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL:  The kin of many infants admitted at the fire-hit Kamla Nehru Government Hospital in Bhopal and the opposition Congress have alleged that the toll was much higher than four deaths, a charge denied by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government.

    “Hospital and government are lying as many more newborns, including my four-day-old child, who were admitted at the unit where the fire happened, died. My child was to be discharged on Monday, but didn’t come out of the hospital alive,” mourned Bhopal resident Shailendra with the body of his newborn on the lap.

    MP minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang meetsfamilies at the hospital on Tuesday | ptiLeader of Opposition and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath alleged that the casualty figures are being suppressed by the government like during the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

    “I spoke with many parents who are still searching for their missing newborns and infants but are not being allowed entry in the fire-hit critical care facilities. The actual toll is much more than four being reported by the government,” the Congress veteran said.

    “Contrary to the medical education minister’s claims that only 40 infants were admitted at the fire-hit paediatric unit, there were 140-150 patients at Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) on the third floor. We demand a probe by a sitting high court judge in place of the probe which is being overseen by a senior state bureaucrat.”

    But, Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang maintained that the Monday night’s blaze claimed four lives.

    “There were 40 children admitted to the fire-hit unit, and all were rescued by fire-fighters and hospital staff. But due to severity of their existing health complications, four of them couldn’t be saved. SNCU and PICU attend to severely ill infants. Many such kids die despite best efforts of doctors in such units. It won’t be correct to assume that all deaths were the result of the blaze,” Sarang asserted.

    A high-level probe was ordered and Rs 4 lakh announced to each of the four bereaved families, the minister assured the tragedy-hit households.

  • Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan scolds officials over water issue in native village

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan admonished local officials after he received complaints of water shortage while on a tour of his native Jait village in Sehore district, some 40 kilometres from here.

    A video of Chouhan expressing displeasure during his trip on Saturday went viral on social media soon after, leading to the opposition Congress claiming that the situation would be far worse in other parts of the state if the native village of a person who has been CM for 17 years was facing a water crisis.

    After receiving complaints from residents, Chouhan turned towards local officials and said, “What is Jal Nigam doing? Water is not being supplied to my village.

    Is it my work to receive each application, and check each tap spout? I will review the situation after 15 days and you (officials) will not stay here if even a single complaint is received.

    “This is not the way. Is it the CM’s work to see whether water is coming from each tap? Will people have to come to me for such small issues? The collector and commissioner will check the work you officials have done after 15 days,” he added.

    Chouhan asked officials to carry out a survey of the village, ensure water supply and submit a report on the situation in 15 days.

    A group scheme was implemented in several villages in Chouhan’s Budhni Assembly seat to provide tap water to every household.

    Hitting out at the state government, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh tweeted, “Now, the officials will look into every water tap.

    The tap spouts were found broken in Jait, the native village of Mamu (referring to Chouhan). What would have been condition of the state, if this is the situation in your (Chouhan) village.”

    MP Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja, while sharing the video showing the CM in Jait, said if “this is the condition of the native village of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has been CM for 17 years, then one can understand the situation in other parts of the state.”

  • MP government to decorate Ujjain city for Maha Shivratri festival next year

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that Ujjain city, which houses the famous Mahakaleshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, will be decorated on the occasion of Maha Shivratri festival next year.

    Maha Shivratri will be celebrated on March 1 next year.

    “Ujjain is an amazing city. The city of Mahakal will be decorated before next Maha Shivratri and everyone will celebrate the festival with joy,” Chouhan said on Friday while honouring Hindu saints and seers in Ujjain, a government statement quoted him as saying.

    He was in Ujjain on Friday as a part of the BJP’s nationwide celebrations coinciding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kedarnath visit.

    While watching on television the PM offering prayers at Kedarnath, Chouhan paid obeisance to the deity at the Mahakaleshwar temple.

    Later, Chouhan inspected the ongoing development works in and around Mahakaleshwar temple.

    Projects worth Rs 730 crore are being implemented at the Mahakaleshwar temple, out of which works worth Rs 368 crore are currently underway, Chouhan said, adding, “The officials are directed to complete the ongoing works before the next Maha Shivratri festival.”

    The chief minister said that stories, traditions and beliefs related to Indian culture and Mahakaleshwar would be inscribed in the entire temple complex.

    He said that 108 pillars are being built on the path leading from Triveni Museum to Mahakaleshwar temple and stories related to religious traditions and history will be inscribed on each pillar.

    On the occasion of Diwali this year, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh turned Ayodhya into a city of lights as 12 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) were lit there.

    Of the 12 lakh diyas, nine lakh were lit along the banks of the Saryu river.