Monday is shaping up to be an eventful day across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, with action on the political, civic and weather fronts alike. From Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur to Raipur, Bilaspur and Durg, here is a look at every key development from the two states.
Congress Plans a Phased Protest Over Meenakshi Natarajan
The cancellation of Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan's Rajya Sabha nomination has now spilled onto the streets. In protest, the Youth Congress has announced a statewide agitation for today, during which workers will take to the roads and burn an effigy of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Demonstrations will also be held at district headquarters.
Rather than confining the protest to a single day, the party has decided to run it in phases. The Youth Congress leads the charge on 15 June, the NSUI will protest on 16 June, and the Mahila Congress will hit the streets on 17 June.
Public Dialogue in Bhopal to Mark 12 Years of the PM
Programmes will be held in Madhya Pradesh to mark 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav will interact directly with the public at Bhimnagar in Bhopal. This dialogue, held under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, is scheduled for 10 am today.
Madhya Pradesh Begins Groundwork for Civic Body Polls
The state government has started preparations for urban local body elections. The task of fixing reservation for the posts of mayor and Nagar Palika president has been handed to the commissioner, with the commissioner of the Urban Development and Housing Department authorised for the job. The entire reservation process will be completed under the provisions of the Nagar Palika Act, 1999. In parallel, the State Election Commission has begun the work of updating the voter list.
Ujjain: Mahakal Darshan and a Hit to Water Supply
With the summer holidays drawing to a close, a wave of devotees descended on Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar temple. On Sunday, a total of 2,47,894 devotees had darshan of Lord Shri Mahakaleshwar. Amid the heavy rush, the temple management committee smoothly handled arrangements for darshan, security and other essential needs.
One part of the city, meanwhile, will have to cope with a water shortage. A 750 MM pipeline developed a leak during road construction work on Dhaba Road. As a result, filling the water tank for the Ujjain North area became technically impossible — which is why there will be no water supply in Ujjain North on Monday.
Dewas District Hospital Exposed Over Missing Ambulance
A serious lapse in the health system has come to light at Dewas District Hospital. Despite a critically ill patient being referred elsewhere, an ambulance could not be arranged in time. The family contacted both the 108 service and the hospital administration, but were told that no ambulance was available. For nearly an hour, the patient's relatives were left wandering the hospital premises in search of an ambulance. The episode raises a hard question — when no ambulance is available in an emergency, who takes responsibility for a patient's life? Once again, it has put the health department's arrangements under scrutiny.
Ratlam: Fire Near MCH Unit, One Detained
A fire broke out near the building of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) unit in Ratlam. The blaze actually started in garbage lying in a nearby open ground. The fire brigade brought it under control in time and there was no loss of life. One person has been detained on charges of starting the fire.
New Academic Session Begins in Chhattisgarh Tomorrow
A new academic session begins in Chhattisgarh tomorrow, on 16 June. Classes will resume from tomorrow in all government and private schools across the state. A Shala Pravesh Utsav (school admission festival) will be held on 30 June, with Chief Minister Sai and the education minister taking part. The event will also be organised at the divisional level, and on the occasion children will be given uniforms, books and bicycles.
Monsoon Set to Reach Chhattisgarh, Relief from Heat in Sight
The monsoon is set to arrive in Chhattisgarh soon, with its entry into the state likely within the next 2-3 days. An alert for thunderstorms, lightning and rain has been issued for several districts this evening, and the meteorological department has also warned of lightning strikes and strong winds. As rain activity picks up, temperatures in north Chhattisgarh could fall by 1 to 2 degrees, while central Chhattisgarh may see a rise of 1-2 degrees. Rajnandgaon was the hottest place on Sunday, recording a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius.
BJP Chief Nitin Nabin's Likely Chhattisgarh Visit
BJP national president Nitin Nabin may travel to Chhattisgarh on 20 June. He is likely to reach Raipur to take part in the International Yoga Day programme. Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai had recently extended an invitation to him in Delhi to visit the state. If the trip goes ahead, it will be his first visit to Chhattisgarh since becoming the party's national president.
