Journalism of Courage
After making the bizarre demand of covering lotus flowers,the Madhya Pradesh unit of Congress now seems to have a problem with diyas (earthen lamps) too. The party has objected to the use of diyas in advertisements saying the symbol whips up religious feelings.
A BJP advertisement published in the newspapers on Sunday on the occasion of Diwali carried a photograph of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and a lit diya with a slogan let the flame of development lit up every house and corner of the state. But the Congress objected to the use of diya and complained to the Election Commission terming it violation of the model code of conduct. He (Chouhan) is a star campaigner (of the BJP). By displaying a symbol that is associated with only one community by tradition,culture and religion,the BJP has attempted to rouse religious feelings, stated the complaint sent to the Election Commission by state Congress vice-president (Organisation) Rameshwar Nikhra.
While the demand for covering lotus flowers was made by a couple of small-time leaders,the complaint about diya has been officially lodged by the party.
