BJP Serves Show Cause Notice to MLA for Opposing Land Acquisition in Ujjain

Bhopal: A BJP MLA here has been served show cause notice by the party for criticizing the state government for its land acquisition policy to develop a spiritual city in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on the occasion of Simhastha mela, scheduled to be held in 2028.

Chintamani Malvya who represents Alot Assembly constituency in Ratlam district has been asked by the state party leadership to explain his conduct, party sources said on Sunday.

Mr. Malvya while participating in the debate on the governor’s address in the ongoing budget session of the state Assembly had pulled up the state government for reportedly taking a decision to acquire lands of the local farmers in Ujjain permanently to build a spiritual city on the occasion of the 2028 Simhastha mela.

The Ujjain Simhastha, also known as the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, is a major Hindu religious festival held every 12 years in the temple city of Ujjain.

The upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela is scheduled to be held in 2028.

‘On earlier such occasions, the state government used to take the local farmers’ lands on lease for three- six months. But the state government has decided to permanently acquire land from the farmers this time to develop a spiritual city in Ujjain’, Mr. Malvya said.

He wondered if it would be appropriate to build a spiritual city with concrete structures, saying that in that case the ambience of spiritualism would be lost.

He however appreciated the chief minister Mohan Yadav’s decision to earmark Rs 2,000 crore for holding the famous Ujjain Simhastha.

The issue has triggered furor in the ruling BJP with the matter being drawn to the notice of the Central party leadership for action.

The state BJP leadership has served a show cause notice to him seeking a reply from him within seven days.

The notice said that his statement has threatened to sully the image of the party.