In MP, the govt displays its absurdity

Chandrakant Naidu in Bhopal

Ad lib additions to the “Padmavati-protest” script are lending hilarity to the drama in Madhya Pradesh. The latest one came in the form of a fatwa from district education officer (DEO) in Dewas banning dance-performance on the popular song Ghoomer from the film in school functions. The ban followed Shri Rajput Karni Sena’s objection to such dance performance by students of RSS-backed Saraswati Shishu Mandir during the annual cultural festival. A BJP legislator was the chief guest at the function. 

DEO Rajiv Suryavanshi wrote to principals and headmasters of all schools in the district not to use the songs from the film in cultural programmes. Suryavanshi said the song showed “Ma Padmavati” in a poor light and offended the sentiments of the Hindus.

District collector Ashish Singh scrubbed the absurdity the next day, saying the DEO had exceeded his authority and the state government was supposed to take a call on the matter. Suryavanshi was also asked to explain his conduct. 

Last week, Karni Sena locked Mandsaur chief municipal officer Savita Pradhan Gaur’s office after she announced through social media her resolve to watch the movie.

It was futile to expect any action against the miscreants as the state government is patronising the resentment against the movie. The state is among the first to announce the ban the movie even before the Censor Board cleared it. Questions by the opposition and the media on how anyone can usurp the authority of the censor board and the court have not deterred chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from milking the controversy for political purposes. 

Social activist Harimohan  Bhasneria of Gwalior finally questioned Chouhan’s wisdom in so authoritatively dismissing the contents of the film without seeing it. He served a legal notice on the chief minister seeking where and when did he watch the movie to realise the fallacy of the content. Is it legal on the part of the chief minister to make public announcement about the movie without backing them up with a gazette notification. Are the claims of the chief minister not infringing the artist’s fundamental constitutional right to expression?

 Chouhan made a slew of announcements to commemorate the Chittorgarh queen. He promised a memorial of Padmavati in Bhopal along with the one proposed for the country’s brave soldiers. 

The chief minister has also announced the institution of ‘Rashtramata Padmavati Award’ for those doing “outstanding work for protecting the honour of women” and the ‘Maharana Pratap Award’ for bravery. Madhya Pradesh has through the past ten years remained among the top three states where crime against women and children flourished.