Seers accuse MP govt of tardy Kumbh Mela work, seek PM's help

A seers' body has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in getting the "pending" works related to Simhastha Kumbh mela-2016 completed in time while accusing the Madhya Pradesh government of "lagging behind" schedule.
"On behalf of the 'Shatdarshan Sadhu Mandal', its president Pilot Baba has written a four-page letter to Prime Minister highlighting 10 points on the issue of Simhastha-2016 and sought an appointment with him. A total of 101 seers are waiting to meet Prime Minister," Narsinghdas Maharaj, the state secretary of the Mandal, said quoting from the letter today.
"The PM should intervene in Simhastha work and handover the entire work to his team of confidants," the seer said, adding that the government is "humiliating" them.

When contacted, Ujjain District Collector Kavindra Kiyawat refused to comment on the letter and also dismissed the allegations of slow pace of works.
"Our preparations are going on as per plan and we will complete all works related to Simhastha as per schedule. We will also welcome and give due respect to sadhus and saints as and when they arrive for the fair," he said.
Narsinghdas alleged that state government was "spying on Pilot Baba and tapping his phone".

"Seers used to arrive for the mela from 'Makar Sankranti' festival, but unfortunately nothing happened so far to provide them basic facilities," he alleged.

However, the collector clarified that the seers are yet to apply for allocation of plots for setting up their tents.
The officer said the basic infrastructure is ready and whenever they get the possession of the allotted land, facilities like power and water connections and whatever they need will be provided to them.
Quoting the letter, Narsinghdas said, "In the current scenario, it appears that neither chief minister, in-charge minister, Simhastha Mela Samiti chairman and nor state government officials are serious about making adequate preparations."
"Though chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan never gets
tired of praising the purity of Kshipra river water, the fact is that it's not even worth for 'aachman' (drinking water in small amount as part of a religious ritual)," the letter quoted Pilot Baba as saying.

He also alleged that sewage water was being discharged into Kshipra river in Ujjain.
"All schemes related to Kshipra river are on paper and false. The government is talking to people of other religions and world community, but ignoring the saints of the state and not even thinking any need for the same," he alleged.
The letter sought Ujjain collector's removal from post for "lacking knowledge of Hindu religion and its traditions".
Attacking the government, the letter compared it with Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
Pilot Baba also praised the Congress and Samajwadi Party governments of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, respectively for proper organisation of kumbh fairs in Haridwar and Prayag earlier.

Narsinghdas said the seers will launch a protest in Delhi if the issues pointed out by them are not acted upon.