For police,An example to follow
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan not only likes the honest cop played by Ajay Devgn in Singham but also wants state cops to draw inspiration from the hit film. Speaking at Bhopals police training and research institute last week,Chouhan told policemen to inculcate the best qualities of that tough character. Sure enough,the exhortation seems to have worked. Police in the capital and Indore have followed the chief ministers advice and rounded up a number goonda elements from their homes in front of television cameras. Though they have not gone after the big names ,the unprecedented zeal with which they nabbed the smaller criminals,who generally thrive under police protection,might have struck a fear in the minds of others of their kind.
RSS blow to BJP
The attack on the BJPs Indore office by RSS activists to protest the transfer of a policeman gave the gleeful Congress an issue to pick up while leaders of the ruling party clammed up. The BJP owes its position in power to the hard work of RSS cadres. If you dont listen to them they are likely to create a ruckus, observed Leader of the Opposition Ajay Singh,who is usually very critical of the right-wing organisation. There was no dearth of comments from Congress leaders. While BJP leaders were either silent or in denial,a senior RSS leader did go on record to say that when the child goes unruly,it has to be disciplined and to admit that RSS cadres had been involved. Its another matter that the police registered no FIR.
Digvijaya speaking
Trust Digvijaya Singh to leave his owns party leaders squirming with one of his political statements. While praising the Congress for posing a united front in the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association elections,he said they should continue the good work in the Assembly elections. The former chief minister was referring to Jyotiraditya Scindias thumping victory as MPCA president. When asked if the next elections could be held under Scindias leadership,Digvijaya said he would throw all his might behind him. Incumbent PCC chief Kantilal Bhuria was left visibly uncomfortable. Digvijaya went on to compare MP minister Kailash Vijayvargiya,whom Scindia defeated,with an intoxicated elephant who has now been put in his place.
Dharma Dhamma
Bhopal will host an international conference on Dharma Dhamma on September 22-23,bringing together scholars from 22 countries. The government has organised the event in association with Mahabodh Society of Sri Lanka and Centre for Study and Religion and Society,New Delhi,to coincide with the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a university of Buddhist studies at Sanchi. Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa will lay the foundation stone,while Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand will be the chief guest. According to organisers,the event will underscore the pre-eminence of Sanchi in particular and MP in general in the context of spiritual heritage.