BHOPAL: Known for making controversial remarks, Madhya Pradesh agriculture minister Gauri Shankar Bisen is once again in the news following his speech at an agriculture fair in Jhabua district, on Friday.
Addressing the fair as the chief guest, the minister delivered a 20-minute speech, only a part of which was dedicated to agriculture and farming. The minister spoke more about nationalism and Naxalism, and even went on to comment on the physique of Jhabua district collector, Ashish Saxena.
Addressing farmers, Bisen started speaking about the situation in Kashmir and delivered a high voltage clarion call.
“Jahan huye balidan Mukherjee voh Kashmir hamara hai, ek baar kah do Hindu Hindustan hamara hai,” (the Kashmir where Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life is ours. Hindus just say once that India is ours) he said.
When asked about his "Hindustan for Hindus" statement, Bisen was evasive and said he had to take a flight to Nagpur.
Congress MP and former Union minister Kantilal Bhuria, who was present at the event, didn’t miss the opportunity to take a jibe at the minister.
“India belongs to each and every community and not just one religious group. But I’m hardly surprised by minister Gauri Shankar Bisen’s statements which have exposed the true character and intention of the RSS and the ruling BJP once again,” said Bhuria.
Just a day earlier, while addressing a programme at a school of excellence in Khargone district, Bisen made a comment on Rashtriya Janatha Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's family. While referring to Yadav’s family, which has many children, he said, instead of striving to produce quantity, one needs to focus on the quality of the produce.
Last month, he was mired in another controversy when he pulled up a tehsildar in Chhindwara district for helping the opposition Congress workers.
He cautioned the tehsildar saying, “I’ll send you back from where you’ve come if you help a Congress leader or sarpanch again.”
In May, while speaking at a function in Narsinghpur district, Bisen had lost his cool upon coming to know that the district superintendent of police left the programme midway.
“Is the SP of this district a VIP? It's his duty to be present throughout when the in-charge minister is on a visit,” Bisen had said.