Why BJP MLA alleges ‘Mughal rule in Ujjain’:Anil Jain says ready to resign, challenges govt to hold by-poll

BJP MLA from Ujjain North, Anil Jain Kaluheda, who had earlier warned his own government over the Land Pooling Act issue, is once again in the spotlight. This time, he has directly questioned the government’s work regarding the proposed road widening in the Pipli Naka area. He asked why notices to vacate homes were issued on the day of Holi when India is a democracy and not under Mughal rule. Officials, he said, are busy pleasing the Chief Minister by giving him incorrect information. Development, he added, should be for the people and not for destruction. In fact, several roads in the city are being widened as part of preparations for the Simhastha fair. According to the plan, the road width is proposed to be increased to 100 feet (about 30 metres). Local residents have been opposing this for a long time. Their demand is that the road width should be limited to 80 feet so that a large part of their houses can be saved. People have written outside their homes: “We want development, not destruction.” Why did the MLA raise questions on his own government… On Friday, hundreds of local residents opposing the 100-foot road widening gathered at the MLA’s office. From there they went to the BJP district office. The protest continued for nearly four hours. In a closed-door meeting at the Circuit House, MLA Anil Jain Kaluheda and BJP district president Sanjay Agrawal spoke with Collector Roshan Kumar Singh and UDA CEO Sandeep Soni along with some residents. The discussion was quite heated. Sources say the MLA accused officials of giving wrong information to please the Chief Minister. He reportedly said that if the road width is not reduced, he would also be ready to take to the streets. Speaking to the media in the evening, the MLA maintained the same stance. “This is not Mughal rule. It is a democratic government. We have a popular Chief Minister. Then what kind of governance is this where notices are issued on Holi to make people homeless? Children’s exams are going on and officials are using force,” he said. Bhaskar’s direct conversation with the MLA regarding this matter, full discussion- 1. This matter is from your assembly constituency. You must have had prior knowledge of the project, then why oppose now? MLA- It may be my constituency, but the sad thing is that officials do not share information about projects. We are not told what work is being done, what improvements will happen, or when they will start. I feel even the Chief Minister is being given incorrect information. I have already spoken to the state BJP president and will also discuss the matter with the Chief Minister. 2. It’s a BJP government and you are a BJP MLA, still officers are not listening to you? MLA- I would not like to say much on this. But due to wrong policies of officials, the government has had to step back many times. In the Ujjain–Jaora Expressway project, the height had to be reduced and compensation increased. The land pooling issue has also become complicated. This situation is not right. 3. You have talked about resigning. Why so? MLA- People from Pipli Naka area came to me. Many women were crying, elderly people were pleading with folded hands to save their homes. Seeing this made me very sad. Is this why we came into politics? This is not my profession.
I have told the state president that if I am wrong, I am ready to resign. Hold by-elections here, but there should be quick and positive decisions in public interest. 4. The widening in Pipli Naka is being done keeping Simhasth in mind, then why the opposition? 5. Have the officers become autocratic? MLA- Officers have only one goal – to keep the Chief Minister happy. They don’t care much about MLAs. This is the situation that appears to be prevailing now. 6. You said behavior is like Mughal rule. Why so? MLA- I didn’t say that Mughal rule is going on. I only said that this used to happen during Mughal times. Today we have democracy. Our Chief Minister is a leader who follows in the footsteps of Vikramaditya and cares for the poor. Then why were notices issued to people on Holi and why was strictness enforced? Understand from ground zero… why such uproar over road widening Final notice received on Holi, anger increased Residents of the Pipli Naka area are deeply worried and angry over the road widening plan. Under Zone Office One of the municipal corporation, roads from Pipli Naka to Bhairavgarh Jail Square and from Pipli Naka to Okhleshwar Cremation Ground are proposed to be widened. More than 400 families have found red marks placed outside their houses, leaving them worried and sleepless. The situation worsened when officials served the final notices on Holi itself. Fear and anger visible in video During the notice distribution, a video of a woman surfaced in which she was seen running to pick up a knife in anger and fear. Other women around her managed to calm her down, but the incident revealed the level of panic among residents. Crisis on both shop and house Residents have placed hoardings outside their homes stating: “We are not against development, we are against destruction.” Usha of the Raghuvanshi family says that out of their 40-foot house, around 28 feet will be lost in the widening project. A small shop outside their home is the only source of income for the family. Big worry for people with small houses Pooja Panchal says the small grocery shop in front of her house is their only means of livelihood. If the house is demolished, only about 10 feet of space will remain. Meanwhile, a 22-foot mud house is on the verge of complete demolition. A 60-year-old elderly woman lives there and cannot see. She too is worried about losing her home.