Unhappy With MoS Status to Fellow Sadhus, Naga Sadhus Hold Protest Against CM, Demand CBI Probe

The effort of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to bury the ghost of ‘Narmada Ghotala Yatra’ by according Minister of State (MoS) status to five Hindu seers seems to be going astray.

Disappointed with CM Chouhan for an al­leged scam of six crore saplings supposedly planted for conservation of Narmada River and for the MoS status given to five sadhus, Naga sadhus of 13 akharas staged a protest against him on Sunday in Bhopal.

As Sadhus marched to the CM's House to picket it under the leadership of Swami Vairagyanand Giri, police restrained them at Yadgar-e­-Shabjehani Park.

They claimed that giving MoS status to sadhus was a strategic move by the CM to stop them from raising their voice against the scam.

While talking to the reporters, one of the seers questioned, "Why was the MoS status not given to any Sadhu in the last 12 years of Chouhan's tenure as the CM?" He also questioned the credibility of the plantation drive of six crore saplings.

Later, Swami Vairagyanand Giri said, "Shivraj has not done anything for Narmada, except for taking a tour of the river. If he has not done any wrong, then why did he give the MoS status to sadhus who were taking out a yatra (against him)? Why was the status not given to a sadhu in the past 12 years of his tenure as the CM?"

The sadhus feel cheated by CM's Narmada Yatra, and claim that planting of six crore saplings on the river's banks was nothing but a scam. "I have personally visited the banks, where saplings were planted. However, I could find nothing there. Moreover, the river is being pollut­ed every day. Illegal sand mining is going on in the river, while sewage water is also flowing into it," said Giri, adding that the sapling plantation move was to gain political mileage. He said that Chouhan cannot woo the sadhus by giving them MoS status.

Later, the protesting seers submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Prime Minister and Governor of the state, demanding a CBI inquiry into the world record of plantation of six crore saplings on the banks of Narmada River by CM Chouhan.

Giri said, “If no action is taken within 25 days, sadhus would gather in Bho­pal again and campaign against the CM by going door-to-door.”

Earlier this month, MP govern­ment accorded MoS status to five sadhus - Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj, Computer Baba, Bhayyu Maharaj and Pandit Yogendra Mahant. Computer Baba and Mahant had announced that they would organise a 'Narmada Ghotala Rath Yatra' to expose the alleged scam of the saplings, and to de­mand a ban on illegal sand mining.

However, both called off the yatra a day after they received the status, saying that the government had partially fulfilled their demand.

Giri asked, "If the government has given them MoS status, they should resign from the Sant Samaj. Otherwise, they should have taken out the yatra. Our cars were stopped at several places late on Saturday night. Isn't this a way to stop us from raising our voice?"

"Suddenly he (Computer Baba) changed his view after receiving the status, saying that 'dhongi sadhus' will stage a protest. I challenge him to a debate on television." He added.