Shivraj govt bows to Hindu 'saints'; makes five of them MoS: 10 highlights

A day after getting the 'Minister of State' status, two religious leaders on Wednesday cancelled their proposed stir against an alleged scam in the Narmada conservation programme, while a third one said he would not avail the benefits as MoS. Seeking to downplay the controversy over grant of MoS status to five 'saints,' Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said his government wanted to rope in people from all walks of life for welfare and development. Elsewhere, Bhayyu Maharaj, one of the five religious leaders accorded MoS status, said he would not avail of the benefits associated with the MoS status.

Ahead of the state assembly elections due later this year, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh had on Tuesday accorded the MoS status to five Hindu religious leaders - Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj, Computer Baba, Bhayyu Maharaj and Pandit Yogendra Mahant. On March 31, the five were appointed to a committee set up for the Narmada river conservation. As members of the committee, they were being given the MoS status, an official of the General Administration Department had said yesterday.

MP journalist death: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan orders CBI probe

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of a Bhind-based journalist.

Earlier, Chouhan had assured strict action against the culprit and said, "Security of journalists is our priority and strict action will be taken against the culprit."

Sandeep Sharma, a journalist with a national news channel, who was probing a possible nexus between the police and sand mafia, was mowed down by a speeding truck in Bhind district on Sunday.

In a chilling CCTV footage that surfaced on Monday morning, Sharma was seen riding a motorcycle when a truck mowed him down.

Sharma had reportedly informed the police in the past about a threat to his life.

Meanwhile, the driver of the truck which ran over the journalist was arrested by the police on Monday night from Bhind.

MP CM birthday vow: Promises to bear education cost of disabled children

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday promised to bear the education cost of differently abled children.

He made this promise on his 59th birthday in Bhopal, which he along with his wife Sadhna Singh, celebrated with differently-abled children.

Chouhan said, "If these children want to get admission in medical college, engineering college, IIT, IIM, polytechnic or wherever they want; I will pay their education fee."

He further blessed them for their future.

The Chief Minister also cut his birthday cake with the children.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended birthday wishes to Chouhan.

"Birthday greetings to Madhya Pradesh CM @ChouhanShivraj Ji.

His humility has endeared him to all sections of society and his hardwork has transformed MP. I pray for Shivraj ji's long and healthy life," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.