Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Congress leaders on Friday staged a protest at the historic Rajwada Palace, expressing their disapproval of a recent cabinet meeting held there by the BJP-led state government.
The protest involved purification rituals using Gangajal and Vedic mantras, led by priest Vishal Chaturvedi, with Congress workers reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and playing traditional instruments.
City Congress Committee acting president Devendra Singh Yadav criticised the BJP for allegedly desecrating the legacy of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar by holding a political event at Rajwada, a site revered for its association with justice and moral governance under Holkar's rule.
They accused the government of hypocrisy, claiming that while shops around Rajwada were forcibly closed during the cabinet meeting, a nearby liquor shop was allowed to operate, highlighting what they termed as the government's "misplaced priorities."
The protest was further fuelled by deputy chief minister Jagdish Deora and tribal affairs minister Vijay Shah’s controversial remarks. Deora had allegedly stated that the army bowed before the Prime Minister, while Shah was accused of making derogatory comments about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a decorated female army officer. The Supreme Court of India condemned Shah's remarks, rejected his apology and ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the matter.
The Congress demanded the immediate removal of both ministers, accusing them of insulting the Indian Army and undermining constitutional values.
Despite the controversy, the BJP government proceeded with the cabinet meeting at Rajwada Palace, marking the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar. However, minister Vijay Shah was notably absent from the meeting amid the ongoing backlash.
The Congress' protest at Rajwada underscores the escalating political tensions in Madhya Pradesh, with the party accusing the BJP of disrespecting historical legacies and the armed forces, while the BJP maintains that the cabinet meeting was a tribute to Ahilyabai Holkar's contributions
