Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today (October 24) hit back at Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for terming him a "dramatist" (nautankibaaz) after he performed the 'kanya pujan' ritual as part of Navratri festival.
The chief minister also asked the Congress leadership (President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi) to clear its stand on the "Sanatan sanskar" of worshipping girls in the form of Goddess, which is a tradition followed in many parts of the country to mark Navmi or the ninth day of Navratri.
“This is painful. Worshipping daughters is Sanatan sanskar and the entire country was doing this yesterday. You (Digvijaya Singh) term it natak-nautanki. This is your sanskar Digvijaya Singh,” Chouhan told reporters when asked for his reaction.
Chouhan and his wife performed the ritual, which involves washing the feet of minor girls, at his official residence on Monday.
Digvijaya Singh statement on Kanya Pujan:
After Chouhan performed the ritual, Singh said the CM is a "big dramatist" who speaks lies.
"Only people with pure hurt can worship daughters and sisters. I want to ask Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi...Is worshipping daughters a natak-nautanki? What is the stand of Congress?
“Digvijay Singhji, while opposing Shivraj Singh and Sanatan Dharma, you have stooped so low that you are opposing the worship of daughters,” Chouhan said.
Speaking to media, CM Chouhan on Tuesday said, "When the whole nation was doing 'Kanya Pujan' yesterday, Digvijaya Singh ji called this 'natak-nautanki'. People like you can't tolerate the respect given to women. I ask Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi that is worshipping our daughters a 'nautanki'? Congress should clear its stand on this."
Digvijaya Singh stooped to low level politics: CM Shivraj
"Digvijaya Singh ji, you stooped to such a low level while opposing Sanatana Dharma and Shivraj Singh Chouhan that you are protesting the worship of the daughters. This is an emotional matter for me, a matter of conscience. I worship daughters and will continue to worship," CM Chouhan added.
Notably, while addressing a press conference in the state capital on Monday (October 23), the Congress leader said, "I have not seen a person who does more drama than the Chief Minister (Madhya Pradesh), now even Prime Minister Narendra Modi feels threatened by him.
"Singh made the remark in view of CM Chouhan performing Kanya Pujan at CM House on the occasion of the last day of Navratri on Monday. During the function, CM Chouhan showered flower petals on girls, washed their feet and served food to them. The chief minister also fed the girls on the occasion.
The single-phase polling in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17 (Friday).
(With agencies inputs)
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