Having suffered the ignominy of Vyapam scam, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has already started preparing for the 2018 assembly polls.
In an unprecedented move, the Madhya Pradesh chief minister mixed environment conservation with the BJP brand of Hindutva politics as he commenced the six-month long 'Narmada Sewa Yatra' on December 11, 2016. The yatra traverses 70 assembly constituencies spread across 16 districts through which river Narmada flows and is set to cover a distance of 2,344 kms on both banks. It was flagged off from Amarkantak, the origin of Narmada, by the highest seer of Juna Akhada Swami Awdheshanand.
A core group of fifty people, comprising experts from various fields such as river conservation, sanitation, agriculture, organic farming and forest and environment, leads the yatra. It will conclude on May 11 at Amarkantak and is expected to see participation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chief Minister Chouhan has already completed 100 days of the Narmada Sewa Yatra, also attended by celebrities and religious leaders, including Dalai Lama. As the name suggests, the yatra aims to spread awareness on conservation of river Narmada and the area around it.
“It is a kind of festival for local people, we want participation from all walks of life so that people spread the message of conservation. Our effort is to create a green-belt on both the sides of Narmada or at least for a minimum two kilometres,” Singh said. “Government alone cannot do this. We want the public to participate in this. We are giving saplings for free of cost to farmers to plant them in their fields on the banks of Narmada so that soil erosion is prevented.’’
While the overt purpose of the Narmada Sewa Yatra'is to conserve the depleting forest cover and save Narmada from pollution, the real motive is political. Interestingly, it has been designed in such a way that it passes through 16 districts and covers tribal assembly constituencies where the BJP looks to regain its foothold.
“Shivraj is a 24-hour politician who has immense capacity to take political advantage from hardcore administrative and government initiatives. The way he has converted a forest-conservation drive and an environment issue into a mass movement addressing Hindutva issue and tribal population is a good example of this,” says Sanjeev Shrivastava, a political commentator.
“I love meeting people and try to shake hands with every person whom I come across. Some times, I shake hands with 10,000-15,000 people a day. I love being with them, this is my way of getting feedback for government schemes,’’ Chouhan told THE WEEK.
He, however, denied any political motive behind the yatra.
River Narmada, often called the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, is not even among the ten most polluted rivers of India. Yet, it is placed high on BJP's agenda because of dependence of the larger population on the river.
The non-perennial Narmada is the fifth longest river in the country and is dearest to the BJP after Ganga because of its sentimental connection with core Hindutva ideology. It holds immense religious importance in Indian mythology and is worshiped by a huge population, which considers it a pilgrimage destination.
Apart from this, the chief minister has his share of sentimental connection with Narmada. Born in Jait village of Sehore district on the banks of the river, his house was so near to the river that it often used to get flooded during rainy season. The Narmada holds the place of 'mother' for those living on the banks the river and it is often called Narmada Maiyya—mother Narmada.
If the people from north India swears by the Ganges, for those from central India, it is Narmada.
During her days of exile from the BJP, maverick saffron leader Uma Bharti undertook Ganga Yatra on the advice and direct control of RSS. The current Union Environment and Forest Minister Anil Dave, also a Rajya Sabha member, rose to prominence when he undertook a Narmada Yatra on a raft. Later, he held a river festival in 2010 on the banks of the river in Hoshangabad, some 65 kilometers from Bhopal.
Incidentally, a year before Chouhan's yatra, Congress state president Arun Yadav had also started a similar march called Janvishwas Padyaytra. His mission on foot aimed to wake up the sleeping cadres of the Congress party.
