‘Is Worshipping Daughters Nautanki?’ Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Hits Back At Digvijaya Singh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday hit back at Digvijaya Singh over the Congress leader's ‘nautanki’ (drama) jibe at the former's Kanya Puja.

“When the whole nation was doing 'kanya pujan' yesterday, Digvijaya Singh ji called this 'natak-nautanki'. People like you can't tolerate the respect given to women.I ask Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi that is worshipping our daughters a 'nautanki'? Congress should clear its stand on this”, Chouhan said, as per ANI. 

On Monday, Singh had lashed out at Chouhan over the ‘kanya puja’ offered by him at his residence on the last day of Navratri, the report said.

"Don't talk about the chief minister. I have never seen such a liar chief minister. I have never seen such a person engaged in drama. Now, even PM Modi is scared of him", the former Madhya Pradesh CM was quoted as having said.

More than 300 girls had attended the ‘kanya puja’ offered by Chouhan and his wife Sadhna Singh at their residence in Bhopal on Monday.

“These girls have come to their Mama's home today.They are not just daughters, I see Goddesses in each one of them. I washed their feet thinking of them as Goddesses. I want to send a message that daughters should be respected, they should be given their appropriate position”, he was quoted as having said.

The nine-day-long festival of Shardiya Navratri is intended for worshipping Maa Durga and her nine avatars, known as Navdurga. Navratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit. Hindus observe a total of four Navratris throughout the year. The 10th day of Sharad Navratri is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami.

Madhya Pradesh, currently ruled by the BJP under chief ministership of Chouhan, goes to poll on November 17. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.