Madhya Pradesh CM to sing Modi tune with ‘Dil Se’

BHOPAL: Facing anti-incumbency and a rough weather due to resentment among farmers, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hopes to tide over the crisis by replicating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ with his own radio programme – ‘Dil se’.

The first episode of the monthly programme will be broadcast by All India Radio in the state at 6pm on August 13, according to the BJP government’s official spokesperson.

“The CM will express his views on various issues concerning the people and spell out his priorities. He will also share the state government’s policies, programmes, schemes and future action plan. He will connect with the youth, women, farmers, labourers, traders and other sections of society through this programme,” said an official communiqué.

Although the official note does not mention this, sources say Chouhan chose August 13 for the launch because the day is celebrated as Hal Sashti by the farmers in North India to mark the birth of Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna.

Madhya Pradesh has about 98 lakh farmers and 1.20 crore farm labourers.

The Chouhan government has been jittery since it mishandled the recent farmers’ agitation leading to death of five farmers in police firing in Mandsaur district on June 6.

In a bid to control damage, the CM announced a slew of measures for farmers’ welfare but again found itself unable to handle the procurement of onion and its sale, which led to a scam.

Earlier, Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejariwal have used the radio to communicate with people in their states.

Expectedly, the Congress ridiculed Chouhan’s upcoming radio address. State Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said, “The chief minister has been trying to imitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi right from day 1. When Modi talked of ‘Make in India’ Chouhan talked of ‘Make in Madhya Pradesh’; when Modi talked of dropping red beacon lights, Chouhan was the first to follow it. Similarly, he is now trying to follow Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

It is a sheer propaganda method at a time when he is facing a crisis in the state.”

However, state BJP vice-president Vijesh Lunawat countered by terming the decision to use radio to send out his messages to people even at the grassroots level as “wise”.

“Radio happens to be an effective medium and any government should use all the technology to deliver good governance to people,” he said.