MP CM gives BJP’s membership to 200 people, social distancing norms grossly violated at event

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday offered Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) membership to 200 Congress workers in the state capital.

Eyeing the upcoming Sanchi assembly seats poll, Congress workers of Sanchi and Raisen city and rural area assembly seat joined the BJP at its Bhopal headquarters.

They are the supporters of BJP leader of former Congress leader and School Education Minister Prabhuram Choudhary who represented Sanchi assembly constituency. Choudhary had resigned from the assembly seat in solidarity with Jyotiraditya Scindia and joined the BJP along with 21 MLAs.

Speaking at the event, Chouhan said, “Choudhary surrendered his ministerial seat to save people of the state and for the development of Sanchi. Hence, it is important that BJP wins the seat and I urged the newly-joined party workers to start working in that direction.”

The photos of the event shows the party leaders and workers grossly violated the social distancing norms in the gathering.

When the COVID-19 cases are taking a toll in the state with more than 6,300 cases and the government has capped the number of people who can attend weddings and funerals, why did more than 200 persons including BJP state chief VD Sharma gather in the event, the MP unit of the Congress wondered.

Launching a scathing attack on CM Chouhan for the political gathering, Congress leader and former CM Kamal Nath said, "Shivraj ji, during the COVID review meeting held on Friday, you warned people of the state to observe rules to contain the virus," Nath tweeted. "For the common man, the number of persons permitted for weddings and funerals are fixed. People are strictly following rules and action is also being taken for violations," Nath said.

“But, at the same time, in your very presence, a crowded function was held at the state BJP headquarters in Bhopal today. No social distancing norms were followed. Such irresponsible incidents have also taken place before in May 18," Nath said.

A week earlier, on May 18, half a dozen Congress workers from Indore joined the BJP at its Bhopal office. They were the supporters of former Congress Minister Tulsi Silawat.

Kamal Nath said, "Do PM Narendra Modi's lockdown rules apply only for the poor and the common man? Does it not apply to the leaders of your party? Will action be taken for such blatant violation of the lockdown rules?"

Nath also posted photographs of BJP leaders, including former ministers Rampal Singh and Prabhuram Choudhary, crowded on a dais at the meeting hall in the BJP state office.

Sanchi is one of the 24 assembly seats in the state where bypolls will be held. Those who joined BJP from Sanchi and Raisen were former district presidents, block heads, youth Congress leaders and others.

Commenting on the issue, senior CPI(M) leader Jaswinder Singh said that such a political gathering puts the life of workers and residents in danger.

“Bhopal is in the Red Zone with the second highest cases in the state while Raisen is in Green zone. According to government norms, a person needs a pass to travel from Raisen to Bhopal, but, since the BJP is in power, no passes were needed. The party is playing with the lives of workers as well as the residents of Raisen district.”

Reacting sharply to the criticism, BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agarwal said, "The BJP is trying to maintain all social distancing and lockdown norms. If there has been any violation of social distancing norms, then in future the BJP will take necessary precautions not to repeat the same situation again. However, in the function today, sanitiser was provided and all who attended were wearing masks, some even gloves. In over-enthusiasm, the social distancing norms may not have been maintained, but the party will keep this in mind in the future."