News Analysis India

Tag: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

  • Shivraj Singh Chouhan govt to use battery of top advocates to get MP High Court’s nod for 27% OBC reservation

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: With the opposition Congress trying hard to corner Shivraj Singh Chouhan government over inability to get the High Court to stay on hike in OBC reservation vacated, the Madhya Pradesh government reiterated on Thursday, its commitment to 13% hike in OBC reservation (14% to 27%) in government jobs and admission to institutes of higher education.

    The chief minister chaired a meeting of the ruling BJP’s OBC cell, comprising OBC ministers and MLAs in Bhopal on Thursday evening. The marathon meeting which continued for over three hours decided to press for the final hearing of the writ petition in the MP High Court in March 2019, challenging the decision to provide 27% reservation to OBC in government jobs and institutes of higher education in the state.

    “On the next date of hearing in the matter, the state’s advocate general and top advocates, including country’s solicitor general Tushar Mehta and Ravishankar Prasad will plead the HC for final hearing in the matter and allow 27% reservation to the OBC,” senior cabinet minister Bhupendra Singh said after the meeting.

    Blaming the erstwhile Kamal Nath-led Congress government for the prolonged issue, Singh said, “the previous government enacted a drama of hiking OBC reservation quota before the Lok Sabha polls on March 8, 2019. Two days later, a writ petition challenging the ordinance was filed before the HC, on which the HC through an interim order stayed the hike on March 19. On March 19, the state advocate general submitted before the court that the government wanted only 14% OBC reservation in the Public Service Commission related appointments. Also, the then state government didn’t put forward its stand in the matter subsequently, as no counsel representing the then state government appeared before the court in the matter for a year or appealed against HC’s interim stay.”

    “Our government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan is committed to 27% OBC reservation and has been strongly putting its stand before the HC. On the next date of hearing, our top advocates will argue for allowing 27% reservation to OBC through final hearing in the matter. We’ll work both on the court’s as well as government level for the OBC reservation,” the minister said.

    “The commitment of our government to OBC welfare is best exemplified by a separate ministry for backward caste welfare,” he maintained.

    Importantly, the four-day monsoon session of MP Vidhan Sabha was adjourned sine die on the second day only on August 10, after the opposition Congress’s OBC MLAs who wore black aprons to the House, created uproar in the Assembly, accusing the BJP government of doing nothing concrete for 27% OBC reservation in the state.

    With the OBCs forming around 56% of MP’s population, the Congress is particularly trying to corner the BJP government over the issue, keeping an eye on the coming by-elections to three assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat, whose dates are yet to be finalized by the Election Commission.

    Importantly, all three BJP CMs in the state since 2003, including Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Uma Bharti and Babulal Gaur have been powerful OBC leaders.

    On March 8, 2019 the Kamal Nath government with an eye on Lok Sabha polls, had decided to hike the 14% existing OBC quota in government jobs and admissions to institutions of higher education in the state to 27% through an ordinance.

    Just two days later, medical PG course aspirants had moved the HC seeking stay against the operation of the ordinance. Nine days later on March 19, 2019, the HC had through an interim order stayed the operation of the ordinance.

    The final hearing in the matter will reportedly take place in the MP High Court in the first week next month. 

  • WATCH | Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan​, Kailash Vijayvargiya sing Sholay’s ‘Dosti’ song

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: A video of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya singing a song from the film “Sholay” went viral on social media on Wednesday evening.

    Chouhan himself shared the video, shot during a party hosted by Vijayvargiya, on Twitter.

    The two leaders are seen singing ‘Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chhodenge’, a song which celebrates friendship, in the video.

    ये दोस्ती हम नहीं तोड़ेंगे…@SrBachchan @aapkadharam pic.twitter.com/coBPaN1hP1
    — Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) August 11, 2021
    The party took place on the premises of the state Assembly here on Wednesday evening.

    Chouhan did not forget to tag Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra who feature in the original song while sharing the video.

    Vijayvargiya and Chouhan have been friends since they started out in politics.

    The duo have been seen singing on public platform in the past too.

  • Madhya Pradesh govt becomes guardian for 1,001 kids orphaned during Covid pandemic

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: A special scheme of the Madhya Pradesh government has so far benefited 1,001 children whose both parents had died of COVID-19, an official said on Wednesday.

    Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had launched “Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Baal Seva Yojna” in May to take care of such children.

    Under this scheme, financial and food security is provided to eligible children.

    Besides, the government also takes care of their education, the official said.

    “So far, 1,001 children from 34 of the total 52 districts in the state are notified under this scheme,” he said.

    Under this scheme, each beneficiary child is entitled to monthly assistance of Rs 5,000.

    Money gets deposited in the joint account of children and his/her guardian.

    After the completion of 18 years of age, the money will directly go into the account of the beneficiary person.

    The eligible children also get monthly ration under the National Food Security Scheme.

    They are also entitled to get free education in state-run institutions including schools and colleges, where they can pursue engineering, medical and law courses, the official added.

  • Over 1000 people safely evacuated from flood-affected Sheopur village: Madhya Pradesh CM

    By ANI

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that more than 1000 people have been safely evacuated from flood-affected Sheopur village.

    He said that 30 villages of Sheopur have been affected by the floods in the rivers Quarri, Seep, and Parvati.

    “30 villages of Sheopur are flood affected. Relief and rescue work is going on at a brisk pace. So far, more than 1000 persons have been safely evacuated. At present, the campaign is going on to rescue about 1000 people trapped in village Jwalapur, Bheravada, Mewara, and Jatkheda,” Chouhan said in a tweet in Hindi.

    He congratulated the Border Security Force (BSF) and the administration for rescuing 24 people at night in Gwalior’s Pawaya Bhitarwar.

    “In Gwalior’s Pawaya Bhitarwar @BSF_India With the help of the administration, 24 people were rescued in the night, mostly children and women. Those who successfully carried out this operation even in dark and adverse conditions #BSF The jawans are to be congratulated,” said Chouhan in a tweet.

    Army has rescued 17 people trapped in Datia Pali’s Village and 20 people from Kali Pahari of Shivpuri, tweeted Chouhan. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rescued 11 people from Tapkeshwar Temple, he said.

    The Chief Minister said that that he is continuously monitoring the flood situation in the state.

    “I have discussed with Inspector General of Police (IG) Chambal, IG Gwalior, and the district administration of the flood-prone area on the phone,” he said.

    “Rescue operation is going on in full swing at all the places. Many people have been evacuated safely in the rescue operation that lasted overnight,” added Chouhan.

    On Tuesday, the Chief Minister took stock of the flood situation in the state at a meeting. (ANI)

  • Semi-nude protests by government employees to invite action, warns Madhya Pradesh minister

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday strongly disapproved of semi-nude protests by a section of state employees and warned of ‘disciplinary action’ against them.

    Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has expressed displeasure over such agitations, a senior minister said.

    On the other hand, the opposition Congress said the BJP government should look into the demands of its agitating employees instead of their mode of protest.

    A section of government employees had recently staged semi-nude protests across the state in support of their various demands.

    “During the cabinet meeting today, the Chief Minister expressed displeasure over semi-nude protests by the government employees. They hold such protests despite being government servants,” Home Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

    He said such an agitation falls under the purview of “indiscipline” and will not be tolerated.

    “Disciplinary action will be taken against the employees involved in such acts (semi-nude protests),” Mishra warned.

    State Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja said the state government should consider the demands raised by the employees.

    “The employees are protesting for their justified demands. They staged semi-nude protests to draw attention of the state government towards their demands. But the CM only saw their clothes and not the justified demands,” Saluja said.

    Last week, the employees of Panchayat and Rural Development Department had staged semi-nude protests across the state to press for their 15-point demands, including appointment on compassionate ground and filling up of vacant posts, among others.

  • CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan cautions people of Indore, administration on rising COVID-19 cases

    By PTI
    INDORE: With the gradual rise in coronavirus cases in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh over the past few days, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday cautioned the people, saying that even slight negligence towards adherence to COVID-19 protocols could quickly turn the situation bad.

    “Seven new COVID-19 cases were found in Indore. I have directed the administration to remain alert. I also urge people there that even slight negligence in observing caution will result in change in the situation without any delay. Therefore, remain alert and follow guidelines,” Chouhan said in a tweet.

    Health officials said that Indore has witnessed a gradual spike in daily cases – from one to seven – between July 23 and 28.

    Eyewitnesses said that people were seen crowding public places like markets, with many of them not even wearing face masks and not following social-distancing and COVID-19 norms.

    According to official figures, in the district with a population of over 35 lakh, nearly 1.35 lakh people have so far contracted the infection, of whom 1,391 have succumbed to it.

    The pandemic had broken out in Indore district in March 2020.

  • Congress cries foul as MP govt decides to print pictures of PM, CM on ration bags

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government’s plan to distribute ration in bags bearing the pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from the next month has not gone down well with the opposition Congress, which on Wednesday dubbed the move a “personal branding” of BJP leaders at the cost of real beneficiaries.

    The state government is organising ‘Ann Utsav’ on August 7, which will be virtually addressed by PM Modi.

    A public relations department official has said that the ration will be distributed in bags to 100 beneficiaries each at 25,435 PDS (Public Distribution System) shops in Madhya Pradesh on August 7 during the upcoming “Ann Utsav,”.

    Justifying the move to print pictures of the prime minister and the CM on the ration bags, MP’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bisahulal Singh told reporters that ration stock for two months is being provided free by the Centre and for three months by the state government to the eligible families.

    “We have decided that the beneficiaries of the PDS will be given rice stock of five months in a bag, at the ‘Ann Utsav’. What is wrong in having the photos of the PM given that the Centre is providing free ration to people? Similarly, a ration stock of three months is being given free by the state government,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

    Singh said the pictures of Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and the food minister of that state are printed on the ration bags.

    “The Union government is providing free ration to Chhattisgarh as well so they should ideally put a picture of the PM on the bags along with that of the chief minister (Baghel),” he said.

    Slamming the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, former minister and Congress MLA PC Sharma said the BJP has failed to provide free ration to intended beneficiaries but is doing the personal branding of the party leaders.

    “They are organising such programmes to dish out huge figures of beneficiaries of PDS for the PR work. The truth is that lakhs of BPL (Below Poverty Line) beneficiaries in Madhya Pradesh are yet to receive the ration of five months as announced earlier. Several such applications are pending with the district administration,” Sharma claimed while speaking to PTI.

    He alleged that the reality and the figures put out by the state government are contradictory.

    “Farmers are committing suicide due to mounting loan burden in the state,” he alleged.

    Madhya Pradesh BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal said the bags will bear the pictures of the PM and the CM and not of the state unit party president.

    “This is well under the Constitutional arrangement,” he said.

    Refuting Congress’ allegations, Agrawal said ration is being given continuously to beneficiaries and the distribution is monitored.

    “States ruled by Congress are in the dock over the issue of providing benefits to the poor under the PDS system. The Congress is anti-poor. They gave the slogan to eliminate poverty but they cannot see the good work in this direction,” he said.

  • Nath slams Chouhan on MP’s investment ‘reality’, says state lacks ‘environment of trust’ under BJP rule

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: A day after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wooed investors to the state, MP Congress chief Kamal Nath on Sunday said industries pump in money only if there is an environment of trust, which is lacking in the state under the BJP rule.

    Nath also claimed that during the 15-month-long Congress dispensation in the state helmed by him till March last year, the government had tried to improve the image of Madhya Pradesh and build an environment of trust, but the Chouhan-led government has brought things back to square one.

    “Shivraj ji, this is true that MP is the heart of India, but know the fact that investment comes with trust, which your government never earned.

    “Because under your rule, the state earned the dubious distinction being a state of mafias, adulterators, corruption, and unemployment and for always being on top among the states in the crime against women,” Nath said in the tweet.

    Despite holding many investors’ meets by spending lakhs and crores of rupees and making claims about attracting investments, everybody knows the reality on the investment front in the state, he added.

    “We tried to change this image (of the state) and build an environment of trust during our 15-month rule, but the BJP could not tolerate it and by striking deals, toppled our government?” Nath alleged in his tweet.

    But after your government came to power, the state has come back to square one, he stated.

    Nath’s tweets come a day after Chouhan in his address at Horasis India Meeting, 2021 during a session on ‘Madhya Pradesh – India’s Emerging Economic Tiger’ in New Delhi on Saturday spoke about the plans to turn Madhya Pradesh an ideal investment destination in India.

    “We are not just the heart of India, but are the people with a heart. We don’t have (only) one, but have multiple unique point,s like 30 per cent forest cover, a hub of minerals, Asia’s largest dam and 8.5 crore population with a focus on skilled manpower,” Chouhan was quoted as saying in a government release.

    “I know that the backbone of Madhya Pradesh’s development is in investment, and hence we are focusing on this. I welcome you all to Madhya Pradesh, and invest, we hope you get the benefit and help reach the Atmna Nirbhar Bharat dreams, I promise you won’t be disappointed,” the chief minister had added.

  • BJP MLA seeks population control law in MP, minister says no proposal as of now

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: Amid demand by a ruling BJP legislator to enact a population control law in Madhya Pradesh, a senior minister on Tuesday said no such proposal is under consideration of the state government “as of now”.

    BJP MLA from Bhopal Huzur Rameshwar Sharma on Tuesday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking enactment of a law to control the rising population in the state.

    Sharma’s demand has come in the backdrop of BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh announcing a new population policy.

    Asked about the letter seeking a population control law, Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who is also state government’s spokesman, said, “No such proposal is under consideration of the government as of now.”

    In the letter, Sharma, a former protem speaker, said, “It is estimated that the population of Madhya Pradesh has now grown to 8.75 crore, adding around 1.5 crore people in the last one decade. This population is more than several European countries, which have much more resources than Madhya Pradesh.”

    Sharma said a population control law will ensure all-round development, good governance and security of the state.

    On the other hand, Congress MLA from Bhopal Central Arif Masood alleged this demand is being made to further the RSS agenda.

    Though mooted in the name of a minority community, Dalits and tribals living in villages are the actual target of such a policy as they have more children, he said.

    This has nothing to do with development, he added.

    On July 11, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled the Uttar Pradesh Population Policy 2021-2030 aiming at bringing down the gross fertility rate among women by 2030.

    A draft bill on UP population control policy says people having more than two children in Uttar Pradesh will be debarred from contesting local bodies polls, applying for government jobs or receiving any kind of subsidy.

    It also seeks to prohibit promotions in government jobs for such people, while offering incentives to those limiting their children to two.

  • Loyalists put MP Jyotiraditya Scindia in driver’s seat at home turf Gwalior

    By Express News Service
    BHOPAL: After plum portfolios in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia’s loyalists have been given control of districts of Gwalior-Chambal region in the CM’s nomination of ministers in-charge for all 52 districts in Madhya Pradesh late Wednesday late night.

    The Scindia loyalists, including Tulsi Silawat, Govind Singh Rajput, Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, Pradumn Singh Tomar and Suresh Dhakad, were made in-charge ministers of Gwalior, Bhind, Shivpuri, Ashok Nagar, Datia and Guna districts, all part of the Gwalior-Chambal region, which is considered Scindia’s family bastion.

    Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar’s loyalist Bharat Singh Kushwah, who was allocated Morena and Sheopur, was the only non-Scindia camp person to be handed over the charges of districts in the region. Both Morena and Sheopur districts are part of Tomar’s constituency.

    Another powerful politician from the same region, home minister Narottam Mishra was made in-charge minister of Indore while CM Chouhan’s loyalist and urban development and housing minister Bhupendra Singh was allocated Bhopal district. The other Scindia loyalists, Brijendra Singh Yadav, Prabhuram Chowdhary, Rajvardhan Singh Datigaon and OPS Bhadoria, were allocated Mandsaur, Alirajpur, Dhar, Shajapur, Dhar, Sehore, Damoh and Harda districts.

    Commenting on the appointments, Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja said, “By rendering control of all the Gwalior-Chambal districts to Scindia loyalists, the CM has jolted his adversaries within the BJP, including Union minister Prahlad Patel and state BJP president VD Sharma.”

    Securing place in BJP’s inner circles​Currently, nine out of the 30 ministers in the MP government are Scindia loyalists, who hold plum portfolios. With this, the former Congressman has tightened his grip in the BJP.