CM postpones functions, reviews security in state

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath has postponed all official functions for three days from Saturday citing security reasons in view of the prohibitory orders enforced in the state after Ayodhya verdict.

Sources in Mantralaya disclosed that Nath was to attend Indian Television Award (ITA) on Sunday and unveil the statue of former CM Arjun Singh in Bhopal on Monday, but the programmes have been postponed.

"Chief minister has postponed all functions for three consecutive days (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) including the ITA, unveiling the statue of former Union minister and senior Congress leader late Arjun Singh, function of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi and even some programmes organised in to mark the 55th Prakash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev. He is likely to attend the main programme of Prakash Utsav on November 11," said Congress media coordinator, Narendra Saluja.

The chief minister had earlier postponed his visit to Jabalpur and Mandla on November 9 where he was schedule to attend a Congress meeting and inaugurate a medical camp in Mandla. Nath also postponed his visit to Indore where a `kirtan’ to mark the 550th Prakash Utsav was being celebrated.

The BJP and Congress have also postponed their programmes. BJP has postponed the mandal level elections scheduled for November 8 and 9 in the wake of Section 144 imposed across the state. The party has also not announced any new dates for the organization polls and even not announced any new agitation, as stated earlier to highlight failures of the Congress government.

"Mandal elections were postponed due to Ayodhya verdict. We have no plans to launch any agitation or protest till the next week," said state BJP media in-charge Lokendra Parashar.

The Congress has also postponed its agitation against the Centre demanding funds for the farm relief and state's share. Congress had recently organised a sit-in protest in the matter last week. However, a further programme on the issue was postponed, said sources in the party.