Black mark for Raman Singh

Men and women in black may have trouble participating in programmes that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh attends. Not because he has an aversion to black, but because that’s the colour of the protest flags local Congress workers waved at Singh when he attended a function organised to commemorate the first foundation day of Balod district. The protests were against the rape of minor tribal girls in a girls’ hostel by a contract teacher and a watchman in Kanker district that only came to light after one of the parents reported it. The Congress claims that the fact the crime was committed for over two years reflects the failure of the state administration. But Singh’s humiliation at a function where he had expected credit was enough for the security agencies. Strict instructions were issued that such incidents should not recur and the police duly obliged. At a programme the chief minister attended in Rajnandgaon district, policemen allowed entry to those people wearing black sweaters or shawls only when they took them off. Those in black shirts or kurtas were not lucky enough to enter the hall.