Shillong, July 6: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan provided special attention to a tribal man in the state who was subjected to an incident of humiliation when another man urinated on him. Chouhan washed the man’s feet, personally apologized to him, and referred to him as his friend.
A video circulating online captured the Chief Minister engaging in a conversation with Dasmat Ravat, a 36-year-old tribal from Karaundi, before performing the act of washing his feet as a gesture of respect.
During their interaction, Chouhan inquired about Ravat’s livelihood and whether he and his family are beneficiaries of government schemes. Drawing a parallel to the story of “Sudama,” Lord Krishna’s impoverished childhood friend who received abundant gifts, the Chief Minister said, “Dasmat, now you are my friend.”
मन दु:खी है; दशमत जी आपकी पीड़ा बाँटने का यह प्रयास है, आपसे माफी भी माँगता हूँ, मेरे लिए जनता ही भगवान है! pic.twitter.com/7Y5cleeceF
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) July 6, 2023
Chouhan shared photos of the encounter on Twitter, expressing his attempt to empathize with Ravat’s pain and extending his apologies. He emphasized that, for him, the public is akin to God.
The man who was caught on camera urinating on Dasmat Ravat, Pravesh Shukla, was arrested on Tuesday under the stringent National Security Act. The viral video depicted Shukla smoking a cigarette while subjecting Dasmat to the degrading act. The incident has sparked a political controversy in the state, especially as elections are scheduled for later this year. Shukla is allegedly linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the opposition Congress has accused the BJP of failing to protect tribal communities.
Previously, Dasmat Ravat had claimed the video to be fake, stating so in a statement that was allegedly prepared under duress. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath condemned the incident, stating that there is no place for such heinous acts in a civilized society, especially when targeting tribal youth from the state’s Sidhi district.
