MP Assembly has Vaastu problem?

The Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha building, according to the government website, was designed by world-renowned architect Charles Correa by applying his 8220;deep understanding of Vedic principles of architecture.8221;

The Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha building, according to the government website, was designed by world-renowned architect Charles Correa by applying his 8220;deep understanding of Vedic principles of architecture.8221; But some MLAs working from there think its Vaastu is wrong and that it8217;s killing them. And the government is taking those fears seriously enough to think of corrective measures.

Sixteen legislators have died since Assembly sessions started being held in the building in August 1996, a couple of them even before they were sworn in.

The superstitious are blaming the deaths on bad vibrations. They say it needs the urgent attention of Vaastu consultants to prevent further harm. In fact, State PWD Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has asked for a report from the Institute of Vedic Vaastu 038; Research Foundation, Indore, which studied the building five years ago.

The minister is to submit its 45-page report, including corrective measures, to Speaker Ishwardas Rohani after discussion with the Chief Minister. 8220;Call it faith or blind faith, incidents are happening and there must be something,8221; he told The Indian Express on Monday. 8220;Koshish toh kar hi saktey hain. What8217;s the harm in trying?8221;

While most of the deaths of MLAs were caused by ill health or old age, it was the hacking to death of BJP MLA Kishorilal Varma and his wife in October over a monetary dispute that renewed the MLAs8217; call for Vaastu correction.

Twelve MLAs had died between November 1998 and December 2003, when the BJP came to power. Varma is the only one who has died since then. But that hasn8217;t stopped the ruling party from getting serious about correcting the Vaastu dosh.

According to Pakaj Agarwal, a structural engineer who heads the Vaastu institute, there are many defects in the building 8220;leading to imbalance of energy and radiation of negativity.8221;

Story continues below this ad

Of his report, he said: 8220;Vidhan Sabha is like a heart of the state. The state will crumble if the heart is weak.8221; Before carrying out corrections, another group of seven experts, including two from abroad, would examine the building, he said.

Correa was not available for comment, and the Speaker is away on a foreign tour to study the functioning of parliament. But MLAs are divided on whether Vaastu corrections should be carried out.

Of Vijayvargiya8217;s plans, BJP MLA Shadora Gopilal Jatav said, 8220;He8217;s our leader. He must have put some thought into it.8221; As for him, he says he believes in God, and the rest is meaningless.

Another BJP MLA, Brujendra Tiwari, said: 8220;I don8217;t believe in it. If I were to move into my new house, I won8217;t bother about it all.8221;

Story continues below this ad

A former Speaker of the Congress regime, Srinivas Tiwari, dismissed the Vaastu idea. He himself had organised a yagna in the building, but says 8220;that was just a puja.8221;

The most forthright comment was from the only Communist MLA in the Assembly, Ramlakhan Sharma.

He said: 8220;Sarvadosh to party mein hai. They are making a fool of people. The Congress is no better, they join the bandwagon at times. What about the deaths of those who are not MLAs?