New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seems to have taken a leaf out of his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath's book to punish goons and criminals in the state.
Chouhan seems to have adopted Adityanath's "bulldozer" approach to criminals and mafias in the state. Recently, several hoardings of Chouhan with a bulldozer in the background have sprung up in several areas of Bhopal, calling him "Bulldozer Mama".
Adityanath had earned the sobriquet of "bulldozer baba" during the recently concluded elections due to his repeated reference to the heavy machine that was deployed by his government to raze the ill-gotten property of criminals and mafias in Uttar Pradesh.
The 'bulldozer baba' image of Yogi Adityanath seems to have paid BJP rich dividends in the election as the party stormed back to power for a second consecutive term.
The BJP now seems to be seeking to create a similar image for CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Addressing a gathering in Chandpura, Silwani, on Tuesday, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he won't let criminals live in peace in MP.
"All the goons and criminals in Madhya Pradesh, listen. If you raise your hand on the poor and the weak, I will dig up your houses and raze them. I won't let you live in peace," ANI quoted Chouhan as saying.
A large hoarding put up by BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma outside his official residence says, "Beti ki suraksha mai jo banega roda, Mama ka bulldozer banega hathoda (For anyone who becomes a hindrance to the security of daughters, Mama's bulldozer will become a hammer)."
The posters have emerged after the administration razed the homes of those accused in recent cases of rape, rioting and kidnapping.
On Sunday, bulldozers were used to demolish the house of a rape accused in Sheopur district. The action came after a minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by three persons.
A similar action was initiated in Raisen district where a violent clash broke out between two communities recently, IANS reported. During the clash, one person was reported dead and over 50 persons were injured.
According to the police, FIR has been registered against over 200 people from both the communities. Fifteen people have been arrested so far.
An order was issued by the Chief Minister for strict action against those involved in creating communal disharmony. Following the order, the district administration along with the local police used bulldozer to demolish several houses, IANS reported.