And now have come State government guidelines to farmers on sowing and other agricultural operations, in keeping with the Hindu beliefs and rituals. These guidelines have been put on the official website of the Government's Irrigation department. The website has an entire section devoted to “Kheti sambandhi shubh muhurat” (Auspicious timings for agricultural activities). The website promises the farmers that if they stick to the timings suggested by the website, they would get excellent results. The site mentions that everyday the “Shubh muhurat” to start any agriculture related activity is between 11.45 AM and 12.11 PM. “If you follow this 'muhurat”, you can be assured of a record yield”, the site says.

It says that the farmers should till their land only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when the Sun is passing through the Mool, Vishakha, Mrigshira, Rohini, Revati, Chitra, Hasta or Ashwinin nakshastras.

The site includes elaborate charts indicating the favourable periods of the day and night for sowing. It also lists auspicious timings for reaping Wheat and Paddy. It says that the farmers “should not even touch their plough or tractor on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays.”

And the Government is not at all on the defensive on this issue. When asked about the justification for issuing such guidelines to the farmers, the Minister of state for agriculture Brajendra Pratap Singh said that as per Hindu tradition, important work should be started at an auspicious time. “Even the Vedas and Puranas specify days and time at which farming activities should be undertaken”, he said.

The Minister and his department, perhaps, are not aware that what they are doing is against the letter and spirit of the Indian Constitution, which enjoins upon the State the duty to promote scientific temperament and to discourage superstitions.

The content of the Government website and its defense by the Minister came in for severe criticism from several sections of the enlightened society. State Congress general secretary Arvind Malaviya, in a statement, accused the BJP government of “pushing the state back into the 18th century”. He demanded that the Chief Minister and the Agriculture Minister should explain the reason as to why farms should not be ploughed on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays.

Besides this, two other shocking pieces of information became public recently. The first was that Madhya Pradesh has an alarming rate of suicides. Since 2007, on an average, 30 suicides were reported every day from different parts of the State. The information was given by the State Home Minister in reply to a question put up by a member.

Another reply in the Assembly was revealed that every 5th MLA of the state is facing criminal charges. They include two Ministers, the Assembly Deputy Speaker and leader of opposition. And the charges range from minor offences to murder, attempt to murder and dacoity. One ruling party MLA, who is also a former Minister, is already in jail on the charge of conspiracy for murder.(IPA)