Apparently setting the tone for the upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has announced a string of sops in the name of Lord Ram, including financing a comprehensive research work on the Ram Sethu to capitalise the most on the emotive issue and revive its Hindutva vote bank.
"The move is also apparently aimed at countering the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government's initial move before the Supreme Court to deny even the very existence of Lord Ram," a top state official said, adding the issue came handy for the BJP ahead of assembly polls later next year as also in the wake of possible mid-term general elections.
Cashing in on the UPA government's decision to file an affidavit and again backtracking on Ram Sethu issue, the state BJP staged a dharna at every district headquarters on Tuesday coinciding with Gandhi Jayanthi and even went to the extent of demanding dismissal of the Manmohan Singh government.
The protestors also recited 'Ramdhun' and Mahatma Gandhi's favourite 'Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram...'
Analysts say the BJP seems to have found a new electoral plank in Ram Sethu to mobilise Hindus against its political rivals in the state keeping in view that its secular approaches in the last parliamentary polls did not fetch enough seats.
To encash the negative sentiments generated against the Centre on the Sethu Samudram issue by millions of people across the country, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan, while speaking at a Gandhi Jayanti function, announced an international conference on Ram to establish his reality.
"A team of historians and archaeologists will work on Chouhan's ambitious project to give a befitting reply to the Centre's affidavit that Ram did not exist," the state official said.
The state government will organise an international Ramayan Mela, before the assembly elections, where sadhus, saints and historians from countries of South and South East Asia, China and Mexico among others will participate "to establish the credentials of Ram and the path chosen by him during his 14-year exile".
Chouhan also announced the development of places, which Ram passed by during his days of exile. These include Ramcharan, Ramvan and Kamadgiri in Satna and Vidisha districts.
Chitrakoot, a prominent religious place on the Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh border and associated with Ram, would also be developed as a special area, Chouhan said, adding Leela Gurukul will also be established there.
Analysts say Chouhan selected Gandhi Jayanti to push his party's Ram agenda with a view to mobilising public support in favour of the saffron party. He declared his government would start conserving all places associated with Gandhi in the state. These include setting up of a memorial at the Government Benazir College ground.
Linking Gandhi's dream of Ram Rajya with the Ram issue, Chouhan said his government was committed to ensure maximum welfare of the poor and announced a number of schemes.
"Efforts are being made to ensure maximum welfare of people in the state based on Gandhiji's dream of Ram Rajya. Several new schemes have been launched for the welfare of the poor," he said.
According to him, the government has launched several schemes aimed at eradicating social discrimination and de-addiction, the core message of Gandhian philosophy.
Setting himself in election mode, Chouhan has reshuffled ministers, district in-charges and other party officials apparently to revitalise the state unit.
