The decision comes within a day of Mayawati threatening to reconsider her party's support to the Congress in the state and neighbouring Rajasthan if cases in connection with Bharat bandh on April 2 last year were not withdrawn. The April 2 shutdown was called by Dalit organisations against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act due to a Supreme Court order. The BSP is supporting the Congress in both MP and Rajasthan, where the latter had fallen short of the majority mark.

The Congress won 114 seats in MP, short of the 116-majority mark in the 230-member House. In MP, two MLAs from the BSP, one from the SP and four Independents are supporting the Congress.

Asked whether Mayawati's threat had prompted the MP government to initiate withdrawal of such cases, PC Sharma, state law and legislative affairs minister said, 'No, that's not the case. The Congress government was already considering the withdrawal of politically motivated cases. Majority of these matters are against the Congress.

The move to withdraw such cases is among the several new initiatives taken by the government. These include formation of new department named spiritual department, decision to allow legislators to participate in the Jan Sunvai (public hearing), to grant policemen one day off in a week and also lift criminal cases against Dalits registered after the violent incidents during the agitation against the dilution in SC and ST atrocities Act.

The proposed spiritual department will replace the department of happiness, established by the previous Shivraj Singh government. The department will take care of various religious affairs and also promote harmony among the followers of different religions. There are reports that Computer Baba may be made in charge of the new department. Computer Baba is one of the sants who took the oath of defeating the BJP government. Earlier he had close proximity with the BJP. In fact, he was one the five sants who were given minister of state status by Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan. But following differences with the BJP government he gave up ministerial status and declared war against BJP.

According to another important decision, legislators would be allowed to take part in public hearings to enable common man to bring their problems before the officials. So far these hearings were held by officers only. According to the changed policy, legislators will be allowed to be part of the hearing. While many legislators have welcomed this decision, there are others who question it on the ground that the hearings could see tension as the legislators belonging to different parties.

As a New Year gift to more than 1.25 lakh police personnel, the state police headquarters announced that from now onwards cops will get a weekly off. The order comes in the light of a pre-poll promise made by Congress. If due to any unavoidable reasons, the weekly off is cancelled, the cops would be entitled for compensatory off up to a maximum of two days within one months’ time.

The permission for cancelling the weekly off would be given only by the superintendent of police concerned and information regarding cancellation of the weekly off would have to be provided to the Inspector General of police, says the order. Similar rules would be applicable to personnel posted in the special forces of the districts. (IPA Service)