Scindia compares 'Mama' Shivraj with Kansa, Shakuni

With the poll battle heating up in Madhya Pradesh, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has taken to Hindu mythology to attack Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, alleging he was "Kalyug's Mama" similar to the characters of 'Kansa' and 'Shakuni' mentioned in the Mahabharata.

Chouhan is popularly known as 'Mama' (maternal uncle) and he has often said that he endears this title that he earned by working for upliftment of women and girl child in the state as a dutiful brother to the women of Madhya Pradesh.

Kansa and Shakuni are two popular 'maternal uncles' from the Hindu mythology, who are mostly seen as negative characters. While Kansa was Lord Krishna's maternal uncle, Shakuni had the same relationship with Kauravas and Pandavas in the Mahabharata.

Addressing an election rally here late Thursday evening for the November 28 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Scindia said this is the time to uproot the "corrupt government" that is ruling the state for 15 years now.

"Shivraj Singh Chouhan says he is mama (maternal uncle)...BJP says it is the sole protector of the Hindu religion...even if we agree to this, then what is written in religious books about the definition of mama?" Scindia asked.

"One was 'Kansa mama' who left no stone unturned to eliminate his nephew (Krishna). Second was 'Shakuni mama' who did everything to destroy the kingdom of Hastinapur and now in Kalyug, the third mama is sitting in Bhopal's Vallabh Bhawan (the state secretariat)," Scindia said at the 'budheybalaji' grounds in his parliamentary constituency.

The 47-year-old Congress leader also accused Chouhan of being anti-farmer and alleged the 'annadaata' (Hindi sobriquet for farmers who till the land and produce food) was shot at and killed in Mandsaur last year during protests and was cheated in the name of crop insurance.

"Farmers tell me...like the Jallianwala Bagh, farmers were killed in Mandsaur by the Shivraj government. The crop insurance scheme for farmers has also not helped. The amount is deducted from farmers account and sent to companies which are owned by businessmen friends of Shivraj. This amount is Rs 6,000 crore," Scindia alleged.

The BJP has earlier rejected these allegations.

Scinda said, "When the Congress government comes in power we will end the entire business of private companies and will ensure that this insurance is given by government companies."
He said, "The Congress... Shastri ji (former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri) gave the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' but the BJP's slogan is 'Mare Jawan, Mare Kisan'."