Impala controversy erupts over MP government calendar:Digvijay Singh questions deer image; says animal is not found in India

The Madhya Pradesh government’s official calendar has come under controversy after former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh questioned the image of a deer printed in it. He alleged that the animal shown in the calendar is not found in Madhya Pradesh or anywhere in India. Digvijay Singh shared a picture of the calendar on social media and wrote, “Chief Minister, the deer shown on the MP government calendar is neither found in Madhya Pradesh nor in India.” He claimed that the animal appears to be an impala, a species native to Africa. Political reactions intensify After Digvijay Singh’s remarks, the issue has sparked political reactions. Opposition leaders have termed it an example of negligence by the government. However, the state government has not issued any official clarification so far. The controversy has also raised questions about the process of selecting images for official government publications. Congress leaders call it a serious lapse Former minister Jaivardhan Singh also criticised the calendar. He said Madhya Pradesh has always been known for its rich wildlife. “Despite having vast forest resources, such a mistake raises serious concerns. It shows how disconnected officials are from ground realities,” he said. Congress MLA Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat also questioned the administration. He said officials have become careless and are not paying attention to what is being printed in official publications. He also raised concerns about public money being spent on such material. Congress MLA Rajan Mandloi said it was surprising that despite India having a wide range of wildlife, including lions and cheetahs, officials used an image of an animal not found in the country. He termed it an example of poor functioning. Minister Vishwas Sarang accuses Congress of negative politics Responding to the controversy, Cooperation Minister Vishwas Sarang criticised the Congress. He said the opposition was indulging in negative politics instead of focusing on important public issues. The state government has not yet clarified whether the image will be corrected or if any action will be taken. The controversy continues to draw political attention in Madhya Pradesh.