Ad goof-up mires PM visit to tribal heartland

INDORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the tribal heartland of Madhya Pradesh was caught in a controversy on Monday after a goof-up in a full-page

Published on: Aug 9, 2016, 10:30:59 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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INDORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the tribal heartland of Madhya Pradesh was caught in a controversy on Monday after a goof-up in a full-page advertisement published in major Hindi dailies by followers of a local BJP leader.

The advertisement by the Sanstha Saadgi Kapil Chaudhary Mitra Mandal on the occasion of former Indore legislator Jitu Jirati’s birthday described Modi’s visit to Bhabhara as a celebration of “Adivasi Unmoolan Diwas” or “Tribal Eradication Day” and not the World Tribal Day.

The advertisement carried the photographs of Modi, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP president Amit Shah, senior party leader Kailash Vijavargiya and Jirati. On the other hand, local BJP leaders are now caught in a desperate face-saving exercise as Modi is set to visit Alirajpur on Tuesday to celebrate the World Tribal Day.

“I spoke to the people who inserted the advertisement in the newspapers. They claimed it was a mistake of proof-reading, and the word Unnayan got replaced with Unmoolan,” local BJP spokesperson Alok Dubey said.

Sachin Jain, a social worker, said the tribals will soon draw a connection to the attacks on Dalits in some of the BJP-led states. “It may be a mistake, but it is a matter of serious concern because it gives a message that tribal society might be facing a planned threat,” Jain said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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