BJP MLA Usha Thakur shares stage with pro-RSS Muslims

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan did not show up but state BJP chief Nandkumar Chouhan and other local BJP leaders and elected representatives attended the event. Thakur had called on Chouhan in Bhopal on Thursday with an invitation for the Saturday’s function. Ever since she began her campaign Chouhan has not reacted to the controversy while the state BJP chief had justified identity cards to tackle threats posed by organizations like the SIMI.

Scores of members of RSM sat on the stage and offered chunri to a portrait of Durga displayed on the huge pandal with an announcer comparing the gesture to the offering of chadar at Muslim shrines. While praising Thakur lavishly on Saturday, the state BJP Chief said that the highlight of the function was participation of nationalist Muslims. “All those who call India their mother are all nationalists,” he said.

In her speech, Thakur skipped the mention of ‘love jihad’ or participation of Muslims but it was there as the last point in the leaflets distributed to women and girls. In addition to Durga shlokas, the leaftlet had 10 points on how to maintain discipline, culture and decorum during navratri.

Asking women and girls to become durga reincarnate she spoke from the stage against low-waist ghagaras and backless cholis and puerile songs sung during the festival of nine nights. “you can’t invoke the goddess by singing and dancing to meaningless songs,’’ she said.

The MLA whose campaign has resulted other BJP MLAs making similar demands and saw display of posters asking non-Hindus not to participate in garba in Dhar town, about 75 kms from here, announced from the stage that girl volunteers will form tolis and move from one venue to another during navratri to ensure discipline was maintained. She did not elaborate what the volunteers will do. Several muslim women also accompanied the RMM

her aides, however, claimed her campaign saw organisers maintaining register at venues and videographing the event.

The legislator said the 10 points were arrived at after a brainstorming session of prominent citizens, doctors, advocates and others in indore last year. Glorifying Hinduism, she said it was based on science and did not involve any rituals.