The Hindu : M.P. Govt. trying to incite minorities: Uma Bharti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 17, 2003

National

National

M.P. Govt. trying to incite minorities: Uma Bharti

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL AUG. 16. The Bharatiya Janata Party today organised rallies and public meetings across Madhya Pradesh to protest against the collective fine imposed by the State Government in Dhar, Rajgarh and Ganjbasoda following a series of incidents.

The State BJP unit chief and chief ministerial candidate, Uma Bharti, wore a black band and led a rally at Rajgarh in protest against the decision. Addressing the rally, she accused the Digvijay Singh Government of dividing society through a selective imposition of collective fine.

She said the Congress Government, which had failed on all fronts, was trying to incite the minority community against the majority community and divide the Dalits and the non-Dalits.

The decision to impose the collective fine was against the law of natural justice. "It is absolutely unjustified on the part of the Government to punish someone twice for the same offence,'' she said adding that her party would give a "befitting" reply to the Government for its decision.

The Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Sumitra Mahajan, led the demonstration at Shajapur and another Central Minister, Phaggan Singh Kulaste, at Jabalpur.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Babulal Gaur, led the demonstration at Sehore, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Ishwardas Rohani, at Narsinghpur and the State BJP vice-president, Gauri Shankar Shejwar, at Hoshangabad.

The State Government had earlier announced the decision to impose a collective fine on the inhabitants of five villages belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Rajgarh. This followed the destruction of standing crops on land that had been distributed afresh among the landless SC/ST people. The Government once more decided to impose a collective fine on 296 villagers accused of inciting violence at Dhar over the Bhojshala controversy. The Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh, had subsequently stated that a similar fine was also being imposed on those who indulged in violence linked with a cow slaughter incident at Ganj Basoda.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National