Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s gesture of washing the feet of Dashmat Rawat, the tribal victim of urination incident in Sidhi, is evoking mixed reaction on social media – some appreciating it and some calling it poll-year theatrics.
The opposition Congress is expectedly calling it a theatrics, an event and attempt to wash the sins of past 18 years of BJP rule in MP. A day after the BJP government sprung into action to demolish the house of the accused Pravesh Shukla – said to be former representative of the Sidhi BJP MLA Kedarnath Shukla, impose stringent National Security Act (NSA) and lodge him in jail, the chief minister welcomed the 36-year-old tribal victim at the CM House in Bhopal on Thursday late morning.
Chouhan washed Rawat’s feet, touched the water to his (Chouhan’s) forehead, felicitated him, apologized to him, called him ‘sudama’ (poor friend of Lord Krishna in epic Mahabharata) and also planted a sapling with him.
Chouhan then shared the videos on social media saying “I am sharing this video with you so that everyone should understand that till Shivraj Singh Chouhan is in Madhya Pradesh, people are Gods. Atrocities with anyone will not be tolerated. The respect of every citizen of the state is my respect.”
The video and tweet evoked a barrage of response with many social media users appreciating the humble gesture of ‘Mama’ (maternal uncle as Chouhan is popularly known as) and some demanding further relief for the victim like a pucca house.
CM Chouhan also spoke to victim’s wife over phone, assuring a house and other monetary help. However, the lady asked the CM send her husband back first, adding that they had no greed for money.
