Chouhan’s draws criticism, ridicule over flood picture

Bhopal, Aug 22 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan has drawn flak and ridicule for aphotograph showing him being lifted by security personnel tocross a swollen nullah in the state’s Panna district to meetflood-hit people there, with the Opposition Congress saying itreflected his "feudal mindset". The picture, which has gone viral on internet withnetizens taking pot-shots at the BJP leader, was issuedyesterday by the State Public Relations department after hisvisit to the rain-ravaged district but was later withdrawn. MP Congress chief Arun Yadav said Chouhan’s "photo-stunt"for cheap publicity had backfired but Principal SecretaryS K Mishra contended that the Chief Minister was a ‘Z’security protectee and the security personnel had to ensurethat he is not bitten by any poisonous animal in the floodwaters. "Chouhan in a bid to garner cheap publicity has indulgedin this photo stunt. Instead of mitigating the problems offlood-hit people in Panna and other parts, the Chief Ministerhas himself become a problem for people (security personnel),"Congress leader Arun Yadav said. He said that the "real face" of Chief Minister has beenexposed in the photo. "Now people know him well. We seek hisresignation over the photo, depicting his feudal mindset," theCongress leader said. In social media, social activist Ajay Dubey posted thephoto of Chief Minister being lifted by security personnelwith a caption "I am a prince". Dubey took a dig at Chouhan saying the picture hasrevived memories of feudalism. Reacting to the photo, one Sachin Jain posted "Liability,isn’t it". Likewise, journalist Abhilash Khandekar, who had writtenChouhan’s biography, has reacted to the photo commenting it as"Inhuman.Indecent". When a senior officer of State Public RelationsDepartment was asked about the photo release, he said thepicture was released by their Panna office to media houses andnot by Bhopal office. However, it was withdrawn yesterday evening itself, headded. Meanwhile, defending Chouhan, the Principal Secretarysaidthe CM was having ‘Z’ security cover prompting his securitypersonnel to lift him to ensure that any poisonous animal inwater doesn’t bite him. "Nothing should be read into it," Mishra told PTI. "Chouhan in fact risked his life to cross the swollennullah. He is too sensitive to people’s problems. He ismeeting people affected by flood round-the-clock. We shouldappreciate his concern, sensitivity for the people rathertaking it the other way round," Mishra said. PTI LAL MAS DKRT