One such situation arose during the press conference held by Yashodhara Raje, Minister for Industries sports and youth welfare. Yashodhara Raje, belongs to a royal family of Scindia. Even in official communication she is referred as 'Shrimant' rather than Shrimati or Mrs. A smart journalist wanted to know why she likes to be described as 'Shrimant' which is a feudal demonisation, despite the fact she is part of democratic system in which peoples' representatives should not use a prefix which sounds feudal. The moment this question was asked she lost her temper which was not liked by media persons who boycotted her press conference. It was due to efforts made by officials of the Public Information department that journalists came back.

Scindia was not comfortable with the questions asked by the journalists from the beginning. She became angry when asked about three coaches in sports department dominating the scene, purchase of horses in violation of rules and preparations regarding Mission 2020 of Chief Minister. On a question related to a woman hockey coach Paramjeet Singh, she said she would do anything for Paramjeet. Scindia skipped the question about her giving Rs. 50 lakh to Varsha Verman who won bronze medal in Asian Games and not giving any incentive to Supriya Jatav winning bronze medal in Asian Karate Championship.

Another Minister from royal family, Maya Singh was the next to address the press conference presenting her report card. She claimed that malnutrition rate in the state was declining and infant and maternal mortality rates had also fallen. Minister Singh said that more than 1.36 lakh girls were benefited in the current year under Ladli Laxmi Yojana. More than 18.62 lakh girls were availing the benefits of the scheme in the state.

She also made such remark which not only appeared strange but was also against the declared policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Replying to a question regarding the decision to reduce VAT on cigarettes in the state, she said she supports the decision of the cabinet. She did not comment when asked whether the decision would promote smoking among children and whether it was in consonance with the anti-tobacco campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Some interesting facts are also coming out of these report card press conferences. For example school education minister Paras Jain admitted that about 19,000 schools in Madhya Pradesh do not have toilets. He also stated that school education department has made a plan for cleaning of toilets in schools. The minister said that the department has realized need to construct 20,000 new toilets and renovation of 25,000 toilets in 1.25 lakh schools across the state.

Replying to a question, Jain said that some lessons based on Gita are already taught in schools across the state and there is no separate order to teach Gita in state-run schools. Talking to media persons Kailash Vijayvargiya announced that 2016 Simhastha (Kumh) in Ujjain would be organised on the theme of green Simhastha.

Giving details. Vijayvargiya said use of plastic in Mela zone during Simhastha would be banned while biofuel vehicles would be run to check pollution. He said talks are on with an Institution named 'Green Sena', which has 2 lakh members, which would ensure cleanliness during Simhashta.

Vijayvargiya said so far works to the tune of Rs. 1750 crores have been sanctioned for Simhastha. He said during Simhastha, seminars on education, religions and environment would be held along with discussion on Islam, Buddhist and Christian society. He added that efforts to give global touch to Simhastha would also be made.

Asked about his reaction to the increase in VAT on diesel and Petrol by the state government replying in a satirical manner he said a minister could not run the government by bringing money from his home and that is why revenue collection is necessary for developmental works. Vijayvargiya added that regular decline in prices of petrol and diesel in the recent past had led to loss of several crores to the state.

There was a time when the BJP government used to accuse central government headed by the Congress of giving step motherly treatment on any issue which BJP thought was discriminatory the same state government is defending the failure of the union government in supplying fertilizer in adequate quantity. This matter was raised by media persons at the press conference addressed by Agriculture Minister Gaurishankar Bisen. Why the state government is not protesting against the failure of the central government despite the fact that angry kisans have looted several trucks carrying urea. Replying Bisen defended the central government.

The Centre cannot be partial to a BJP-led government and has to take care of all the states in the country, the minister said further.

Bisen said around 12 lakh metric tons of urea/fertilizer had been sanctioned by the Centre to Madhya Pradesh, out of which around 8 lakh metric tons had been distributed and the rest would be given by March.

Bisen had recently met Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh and chemicals and fertilizers minister Ananth Kumar in New Delhi, and apprised them that farmers in MP were in dire need of urea. The state had received much less fertilizers than the fixed quota for October and November.

In reply to questions related to why the government was not taking strict action against the companies found supplying substandard seeds to the farmers, the minister said they had taken sample from 1,150 seed sellers and filed FIR against 18. However, he couldn't answer how much damage the substandard seeds had caused and how much was the production loss due to it.

On why the state government increased VAT by 4% as it would hit the farmers, Bisen said that the government had suffered losses and as such it had to take some steps to recover those losses.

Asked whether farmers would be provided bonus on wheat procurement this year, the minister said it hadn't been decided as yet and decision regarding it would be taken soon.

After the process of presentation of report cards by ministers is completed Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh will evaluate the performance of the ministers. Meanwhile rumour doing the rounds in the corridors of Vallabh Bhavan (State Secretariat) that Chief Minister may take the decision to reconstitute his ministry. Still it is not certain whether chief minister himself will present his report card pertaining to the departments held by him. It is a well-known fact that Shivraj Singh Chauhan often tries to avoid media. In fact since he became the chief minister he had hardly addressed a formal press conference.

This is contrary to the practice of other chief ministers including BJP chief ministers who used to love to meet media persons at formal press conferences. Digvijay Singh was one such chief minister who used to brief media almost after every cabinet meeting 'I feel relaxed after meeting pressmen both formally and informally'. He used to say. (IPA Service)