Newly recruited police constables in Madhya Pradesh have been instructed to read chapters from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, every evening during the Hindu month of Margashirsha. This directive has triggered controversy, with the opposition Congress party accusing the government of attempting to “radicalise and saffronise” the police force.
Approximately 4,000 newly appointed constables, training at eight centers, are now required to recite verses from the Bhagavad Gita together as part of their evening routine. A video that emerged on social media shows the recruits, dressed in standard training uniforms of light blue shirts and dark trousers, engaging in this practice.
Raja Babu Singh, Additional Director General of Police for Training, has defended the initiative, claiming that it aims to encourage recruits to lead righteous and disciplined lives. “It will help them balance their intelligence quotient (IQ) and emotional quotient (EQ). Given the recent incident where a young student was killed by on-duty constables in Bhopal, reading the Bhagavad Gita could have a positive impact,” Singh stated in an interview with The New Indian Express.
Singh elaborated that the initiative coincides with the month of Margashirsha, which is significant in Hindu tradition as it is associated with Lord Krishna. Quoting the scripture, he mentioned that “Masaanam Margashirshoham” means “I am Margashirsha among months.” Police superintendents at training schools have been instructed to promote the reading of one chapter each evening, ideally before meditation.
The opposition Congress party has reacted strongly against this directive, labeling it as a move to “radicalise” the police in Madhya Pradesh. Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta condemned the action, stating, “In a democratic country like India, every individual should have the freedom to practice their own religion. What has been directed by the ADG Training is an attempt to radicalise the police force and goes against the spirit of our Constitution.”
This initiative follows a previous encouragement by Raja Babu Singh for police recruits to recite verses from the Ramcharitmanas, a work by the poet Tulsidas, which he claimed was aimed at fostering discipline and moral clarity among trainees. Singh’s advocacy for the Bhagavad Gita is not a new practice; during his tenure as ADG for the Gwalior Range, he had distributed copies of the scripture to jail inmates and organized similar reading sessions.
In addition to the current exercise, which will last until December 4, Singh announced a three-day Heartfulness Meditation program scheduled for December 19 to 21, which coincides with World Meditation Day. These meditation sessions will take place at various historical and heritage sites across Madhya Pradesh, including Bhopal’s Upper Lake and the Khajuraho Temples, and will be facilitated by trained Heartfulness instructors within the police force.
This initiative aims to involve citizens and promote meditation in the community.
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