‘MNCs can’t fish in Kumbh waters’

The real reason behind the move is the SJM’s objection to ‘commercialisation’ of the Kumbh. The Manch has emerged as a powerful force here due to the proximity of Govindacharya and S. Gurumurthy to Chief Minister Uma Bharati.

In their press release on February 4 — the very day the Cabinet decided on a review — the SJM stated: ‘‘Another example of the aims of the WTO has emerged in the form of marketing the Kumbh. Ever since India became a WTO signatory, the SJM has held that the WTO will not be used for the economic progress of India but will be used by developed nations to exploit the Indian market. The same thing is going to happen in the marketing of the Simhasta. According to our information, the MP government has appointed Linterland, a company that provides benefits to MNCs, for the publicity.’’

The note adds the Simhasta has a religious purpose where the devout come to bathe in the presence of sadhus and sants. ‘‘Keeping this in mind when a company targets three crore pilgrims to sell products, then it pollutes this ambrosial function and the SJM strongly opposes this. To consider society a market can be the Western mindset but not ours. We demand the government review its decision and if the Simhasta needs to be publicised, then it should do it through its own means. It should not commercialise this process.’’

When contacted, Lintas’ Integrated Marketing Action Group director Ashish Bhasin said: ‘‘As of now, we have not heard anything officially. We have only come to know of the review through the media. We are awaiting some official communication and once we get that we will be in a position to react.’’ Legally, there is nothing to stop the MP government from revoking the contract.

Linterland had reportedly projected an estimated revenue of Rs 10 crore through sale of advertising and stall space. In this context, SJM pointed out that when the government was spending over Rs 200 crore to organise it, this revenue should not be considered too important.