Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has come under fire from the opposition for washing the feet of a tribal man in what they describe as theatrics and a photo opportunity. The incident occurred after a man urinated on the face of the victim in Sidhi district, sparking public outrage across India.
Political leaders, including Mayawati, the president of the Bahujan Samaj Party, and Kamal Nath, the Madhya Pradesh Congress president, criticized Chouhan’s actions, calling them a mere display of electoral politics. Mayawati questioned the appropriateness of such an exhibition and accused the government of using it as a means to gain votes in the upcoming general elections.
Kamal Nath highlighted the incident as a reflection of the poor condition of the tribal population in the state and criticized the Chouhan government for its lack of focus on law and order and justice for the tribal people. He accused Chouhan of using the camera to further his own interests and stated that the tribal society would not forgive him.
Supriya Shrinate, a spokesperson for the Congress party, claimed that incidents of atrocities against tribal people had been increasing in Madhya Pradesh. She alleged that the state topped the list in terms of such cases and criticized Chouhan for not taking information about other victims. Shrinate condemned Chouhan’s actions as mere theater and urged him to be prepared to leave office.
Chouhan had publicly apologized to the victim earlier, expressing his regret over the incident. He washed the victim’s feet, offered him a shawl and an idol of Lord Ganesha, and spoke with the victim’s wife to apologize to her as well. Chouhan shared a video of the incident on social media, emphasizing his commitment to addressing atrocities and respecting every citizen of the state.
In the wake of the incident, the perpetrator was arrested and part of his ancestral home was demolished. Some social media users claimed to have evidence of the perpetrator’s affiliation with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including photographs with BJP leaders. However, the accused’s connection to the BJP has been denied by Sidhi MLA Kedarnath Shukla.
This incident has highlighted the issue of atrocities against tribal people in Madhya Pradesh, and the opposition parties are seizing the opportunity to criticize the Chouhan government. As the general elections approach, the government faces increasing scrutiny and the demand for accountability from the people, especially from marginalized communities such as the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Muslims. The government must address these concerns and work towards effectively addressing issues of inflation, unemployment, and social unrest in the state.
