Tribal outreach, discussion of poll strategy and enthusiastic display of political strength by the ruling BJP marked the nine-hour-long visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Bhopal on Friday.
Shah, considered the second most powerful leader of the party in the country, also lauded the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Shah mentioned that the state had achieved highest economic growth (19.1 per cent) under Chouhan and that his move to make tribals ‘the owner of forests’ was a first in the country and worth emulation.
The Union home minister’s appreciation came during a programme held to distribute bonus amounts to tendu leaf collectors – majority of them forest dwellers/tribals at Jamboree ground in Bhopal. Hundreds of tribal people attended the programme.
Shah said the BJP government in MP has decided to hand over 20 per cent of all earnings from forests to community-based forest committees, which was a revolutionary move to give ownership of forest resources to tribal people. He also mentioned that 827 forest villages would be converted to revenue villages to benefit the tribal people.
Chouhan said on the occasion that the forest, land and water belonged to the local tribals and they would only save it. “We are handing over the forests to you. The forest department will only assist you. From the sale of forest wood, 20 per cent will go to the tribals. The rate of tendu leaves collection per 100 stacks will be hiked to Rs 300 from Rs 250,” the CM announced.
The programme at Jamboree ground, where PM Narendra Modi had attended a mega tribal convention in November, 2021, was seen as an extension of tribal outreach of the BJP ahead of the 2023 polls. The BJP has been attempting to woo the crucial tribal voters ahead of the upcoming polls, having realized that losses in tribal-dominated seats had left the party short of majority in the 2018. Shah himself had attended a programme to honour local tribal heroes in Jabalpur in September 2021.
A bevy of BJP leaders, including Union ministers from the state, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Prahlad Singh Patel, and L. Murugan, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, state president Vishnu Dutt Sharma and state ministers Narottam Mishra, Vijay Shah, Arvind Bhadoria, Bhupendra Singh, and Vishvas Sarang, MP Pragya Singh Thakur and tribal MLAs Kal Singh Bhabar and Omprakash Dhurve were present on the dais.
Poll strategy discussed
Later, Shah met senior leaders and office bearers of the state unit of the party, including the core committee members, and discussed 2023 assembly poll strategy. Sources said Shah told the leaders that there was a positive wave in favour of BJP in the state and the party should try to make best of it. He also reportedly advised that all sections of the society should be in focus, especially tribals and dalits, for the upcoming polls. Shah, considered an astute poll strategist, said lessons should be taken from the 2018 results and all loopholes should be plugged.
The union home minister participated in a two-km roadshow on his way to the party office on Friday afternoon. Local BJP MLAs and ex-MLAs had made grand arrangements to welcome the senior leader all through the route with numerous welcome arches and dias set up. Kashmiri Pandits and Muslim women also accorded welcome to Shah on the occasion.
Forensic science varsity for Bhopal
Earlier in the day, Shah attended the opening of 48th All India Police Science Congress at the Central Academy for Police Training (CAPT). On this occasion, he announced that a National Forensic Science University will be set up in Bhopal. He said the police have to upgrade now, using the modern technology. “British era policing based on cane charging will not work. Police will have to be two steps ahead of the criminals and for this use of modern technology is crucial,” the Union home minister said.
Chouhan to meet PM on Saturday
Meanwhile, news that CM Chouhan would be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, lent an interesting colour to a politically surcharged day in the state capital.
Sources said CM Chouhan would be meeting the PM at 11.30 am. He would be leaving from Bhopal for Delhi on Saturday morning. However, the exact agenda of the meeting hasn't yet been divulged.
Though sources said this meeting was pre-scheduled, the Congress did not fail to take a potshot, given the fact that it comes on the heels of Shah’s visit to Bhopal. Spokesman Narendra Saluja tweeted “Mamaji (Chouhan) has been suddenly summoned to Delhi by No.1 (reference to PM Modi). Is there preparation for ‘khela hobe’ (let there be a game) in Madhya Pradesh?”
