FAITH FORWARD

In election-bound Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the Congress is wearing saffron on its sleeve to nullify the BJP’s poll plank

- SRAVANI SARKAR

AN INTERESTING IMAGE came out of the June event in Jabalpur where Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched the party's election campaign for Madhya Pradesh.

As Priyanka performed Narmada aarti alongside state Congress president Kamal Nath, a party worker dressed as Lord Hanuman grabbed eyeballs. A massive electric mace-Lord Hanuman's weapon-revolved in the background.

Earlier in the month, the Congress government in Chhattisgarh had organised a three-day National Ramayana Festival in Raigarh. Lord Hanuman (an artiste dressed as the deity) was present there, too, alongside Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. At the inauguration, Baghel underlined his favourite point-Lord Ram is the bhaancha (nephew) of Chhattisgarh; the state was the maternal home of his mother, Kausalya, and he also spent a large period of his 14-year exile in the forests there. Taking aim at the BJP, he added that the party had failed to highlight this association despite ruling the state for 15 years.

Three months later, the Baghel government inaugurated the development work of three spots under the ambitious Ram Van Gaman Path project. The plan tracks Lord Ram's exile route in Chhattisgarh-in the first phase, beautification and infrastructure development of 10 major spots have been taken up. The main highlight is the setting up of huge Lord Ram idols at these spots; seven are already in place.

Earlier still, in February, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced a slew of projects with a distinct saffron hue. These included a development package for temples, pilgrimage schemes for senior citizens, development of ecotourism spots or Lav-Kush vatikas (named after Lord Ram's sons) and ₹100 crore to cow shelters. He also cleared the setting up of Ved and Sanskrit Vidyalayas, and clinics and universities with a focus on Indian traditional medicine.