Spirit of social harmony, equal respect to everyone ingrained in the soil of India: CM
Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that spirit of social harmony, equal respect to all religions and unity is ingrained in the soil of India. Addressing a meeting of National Integrity Council in New Delhi today, Chouhan said ‘‘Indian cultural perceives a person as human being and not as a member of any particular religion, caste, creed etc. social harmony will remain intact till every person has trust to secure justice.’’ He informed that Madhya Pradesh government belongs to all sections of society.
Shri Chouhan said that it is in the interest of social harmony that appeasement policy is abolished and political parties seek people’s mandate by rising above considerations of religion, cast and class. This will ensure development of every section. The meeting was presided over by UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi.
The Chief Minister said that not a single person has died in communal riots in Madhya Pradesh. For this, he urged to amend the figures provided by the Union Home Ministry. Shri Chouhan informed that Buddhist University has been set up at Sanchi to propagate Buddhism and compilation of religious scriptures. Haj House has been constructed for Muslim brethren at Bhopal. Pundits recite Vedic hymns under Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana and Maulvis solemnise Nikahs under Mukhyamantri Nikah Yojana. Festivals of all religious are celebrated at Chief Minister’s residence.
Under Mukhyamantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana, senior citizens have been given choice to visit pilgrimages of their choice including Rameshwaram, Ajmer Khwaja Sahib’s durgah and Velankanni Church. Shri Chouhan said that situation of social revolt will prevail if acts and deeds of government are not the same. Shri Chouhan said that the State Government has formulated a law against terrorism and organised crimes and sent the same to the Union Government for approval. But it is pending for last 5 years while such law exists in Maharashtra.
On Women’s empowerment, Shri Chouhan said that strict laws have been formulated in Madhya Pradesh for dealing with crimes against women. Besides, police stations have been directed to lodge FIR in any type of crime so that a sense of trust prevails among people. He said that under the guidance of senior officers, investigation into gangrape with a foreign woman tourist in Datia district was completed within 10 days and video-conferencing was held for collecting evidence. Honourable court has sentenced the accused to life imprisonment. He said that a number of schemes are being implemented in the state to ensure women’s development, upliftment and empowerment. Mahila Mahapanchayat was also held. Women are being given 50 percent reservation in Gram Panchayats and urban bodies. A women’s cell has been set up in Madhya Pradesh police.
Shri Chouhan said that rate of crimes against SC, ST has declined. At the same time, a number of schemes are being implemented for their upliftment. Payment of rent of houses rented by these communities’ students for study in cities is paid by state government. Upper limit for post-graduate scholarship has been increased to Rs. 3 lakh. Tribal Museum has been constructed in the state to highlight state’s tribes. Shri Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country where international film festivals are held to propagate tribal culture. The Chief Minister said that he believes that development is the final destination of law & order, inter-caste marriages and inter-caste harmony. He said that these burning issues cannot be solved only through policing. For this, we will have to overcome government machinery’s tendency for unequal distribution of resources and opportunities.
