Congress slams BJP as Ambedkar's portrait replaces Jawaharlal Nehru's in MP assembly
Bhopal, Dec 19: A row has erupted over the Madhya Pradesh Assembly's decision to remove the portrait of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and replace it with that of B R Ambedkar, drawing a sharp reaction from Congress which accused the ruling BJP of disrespecting the "nation builder".
The Congress on Tuesday said it welcomes displaying the portrait of the Father of the Constitution in the House, but it could have been placed along with the photos of Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru.
The first session of the 16th Madhya Pradesh assembly began here on Monday.
MP Assembly Principal Secretary AP Singh told PTI that the portrait of Nehru was replaced with one of Ambedkar during the last session only.
"The then Speaker Girish Gautam had directed to replace the portrait (of Nehru) in the last session in July as it was very old and getting worn out," he said.
Singh said Gautam had directed to renovate portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru as they were getting worn out.
"As Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary was being observed at that time, the speaker directed to put his portrait in place of Nehru and also ensured that Nehru's portrait was kept in a respectful manner in the Gandhi-Nehru section of the library.
"As it was a short duration session, Congress members might have not noticed this change (replacing the portrait)," he said.
In a post on 'X', the Congress said it welcomes the decision to put the portrait of Constitution framer Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar but strongly opposes the move to remove the portrait of the nation-builder Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
"If the BJP had honest intentions, it could have placed the photo of Nehru along with Gandhi and Ambedkar. But it is the culture of the BJP to disrespect the freedom fighters and the nation-builder and therefore, it has removed the photo of Nehru," the Madhya Pradesh Congress tweeted.
Senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters that it is good that the photo of BR Ambedkar, the father of the Constitution, has been put up.
"You should talk to the assembly secretariat in this regard," he said when asked if Nehru's portrait will be put up again.
Welcoming the installation of Ambedkar's portrait, Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya said, "Babasaheb Ambedkar's photo should be installed, but removing Nehru's portrait is wrong".
डॉ. भीमराव अम्बेडकर जी की तस्वीर लगाये जाना हर्ष का विषय है। मेरा माननीय प्रोटेम स्पीकर गोपाल भार्गव जी से अनुरोध है की डॉ. भीमराव अम्बेडकर जी की तस्वीर के साथ-साथ पंडित नेहरू जी की तस्वीर को भी उसी जगह साथ-साथ लगाया जाना सुनिश्चित करें।
— MP Congress (@INCMP) December 19, 2023
यह सर्वविदित है कि पंडित नेहरू जी एवं डॉ.… pic.twitter.com/qDP0CjY0Bh
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
