Mandla Collector Carrying ‘Paduka’ Sparks Political Row in MP

With Mandla Collector participating in a religious procession in Madhya Pradesh, Opposition cries foul over the act.

Sufiyah Farooqui, the Collector of Mandla district in Madhya Pradesh, is at the centre of a controversy for carrying ‘charan paduka’ (wooden sandal), the symbolic footwear of Adi Shankaracharya, during a religious procession.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lauded Farooqui’s gesture, citing it as an example of communal harmony, the Congress has unleashed an attack against Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s government for misuse of state machinery. The Opposition party has written a letter to the Chief Secretary demanding immediate action.

On 2 January, BJP media In-charge in Madhya Pradesh, Lokendra Parashar, shared photos from the procession on Twitter.

ये हैं मंडला कलेक्टर सूफिया फारुखी जी।एकात्म यात्रा का अत्यंत आत्मीय स्वागत किया।श्रद्धा से सराबोर सूफिया जी ने आदि शंकराचार्य जी की पादुकाओं का पूजन कर अपने शीश पर धारण किया। @CMMadhyaPradesh @ChouhanShivraj @narendramodi @ANI @HitanandSharma @drnarottammisra pic.twitter.com/11PI0sIDOA

— Lokendra Parashar (@LokendraParasar) January 2, 2018

‘Ekatm Yatra’: Another Ploy for Polarisation?

On Tuesday, as the ‘Ekatm Yatra’ reached Mandla, Farooqui welcomed the procession. She carried the ‘charan paduka’ on her head and walked for a kilometre. Meanwhile, her Damoh district counterpart, Srinivas Sharma, also carried a saffron flag.

Commenting on the issue, religious leader Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati questioned the Collector’s intent.

If she carried the ‘paduka’ because of her belief, then it is fine, but if she had to do it as a Collector, then it is questionable. Agar Collector hone ke naate karna pada, phir to gadbad hai (it is inappropriate if she had to do it for holding an official position).

Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati

Months before the Assembly elections, the state government has launched the ‘Ekatm Yatra’, aiming to propagate the message of Adi Shankaracharya and collect metal pieces to install his 108-feet statue at Omkareshwar in Khandwa district. The procession will cover a distance of 2,175 km across 12 districts. The ‘Ekatm Yatra’ – that began from Amarkantak on 19 December 2017 – reached Chabi in Mohgaon block of Mandal on Tuesday, 2 January 2018.

Collector’s Action Amounts to Violation of Service Rules: Congress

Meanwhile, the Opposition has criticised the participation of government officials in a religious yatra. The Congress has said that Collectors should stay away from religious events.

Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh alleged that the Collector did so in order to show her proximity to the ruling party, and such an act amounts to violation of civil service rules.

By taking part in such an event, the Collectors have violated the Civil Services Rules. I have written a letter to the Chief Secretary asking whether such an act is admissible for bureaucrats, demanding immediate action.

Ajay Singh, Leader of Opposition

Continuing his attack on the state government, Singh said:

The government is misusing respected Adi Shankaracharyaji’s name. The state government is splurging hard-earned public money on a political campaign.

Sufiyah Farooqui hails from Bhopal and was a UPSC topper. She secured the 20th rank in the Civil Services Examination in 2009.

Despite several attempts, Farooqui didn’t respond to calls. The story will be updated with her response when we replies to our queries.

(The writer is a Bhopal-based freelance journalist. He can be reached @MallickKakvi .)

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