Madhya Pradesh BJP in-charge P. Muralidhar Rao has once again caused political stir in the state. Rao's use of 'Virat Kohli' analog for Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given the opposition Congress fodder to take a jibe at the ruling party and the CM.
Rao, while addressing the media on 'booth vistarak' (workers involved in expanding party base at booth level) training workshop in Bhopal, said that 20,000 booth vistaraks will be putting in 100 hours each of work. He then added that the chief minister, even if late by a day, would put in his 100 hours. “He (Chouhan) will bat like Virat Kohli,” Rao said.
The Congress, however, latched on to the comments of Rao and linked it to the recent decision of Kohli to give up Test captainship to say that this is an indication that Chouhan is on his way out.
Spokesman Narendra Saluja tweeted the video of Rao's statement to say: “Amidst rumours of change of leadership in Madhya Pradesh, state (BJP) in-charge has put a stamp by calling Shivraj ji as Virat Kohli. This means that captaincy is to be lost. After 'nalayak, brahmin-baniya', this is sure to cause a big furore.”
Another spokesman Ajay Singh Yadav said “BJP has shown the way of retirement to Shivraj Singh Chouhan like Virat Kohli. This is why he (Chouhan) is being called Kohli. There is total mismanagement in MP and there is nothing like a government. It is working like a circus. Also in the BJP, everything is based on horse trading and party hopping. There is nothing like an organisation. BJP workers are totally frustrated.”
Murlidhar Rao has been in news in the past few months due to his comments. In September, Rao said that the leaders who have won repeatedly on BJP tickets and yet speak about lack of opportunities are 'nalayak' (worthless), causing Congress to go full steam at the ruling party. In November, he created further flutter by saying in context of social engineering moves of the party that Brahmins and Baniyas were in his pocket.
'Congress always tries to create division, friction'
Meanwhile, during the same media interaction, BJP state president hit out at the 'Ladki Hun Lad Sakti Hun' campaign pushed by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, saying that it was Congress's way to create division and friction in the society.
“They say ladki lad sakti hai, we say ladki padh sakti hai (girls can study). BJP governments at the Centre and in state have come up with schemes that focused on education of girls and their wellbeing. This was the reason that sex ratio improved in Madhya Pradesh. And Congress wants girls to fight. We plead with Congress with folded hands to allow the girls to study and work for the nation and not to talk about them fighting.”
Congress spokesman K.K. Mishra counter-attacked, saying “Girls in MP will study only when they are safe. First provide them security. They are groaning under abductions, rapes, gang rapes and murders. It is for these daughters that we say 'we are unsafe, we can fight, we cannot study'.
Saluja said that despite becoming a state president, V.D. Sharma speaks illogically and without any context. He said that Sharma should understand what 'fighting' means. “It is against evils, excesses, exploitation and violence that they are to fight. They are not to engage in fights at home and in society. The BJP president should know the context before speaking out,” the spokesman said.
