Villagers Stage Mock Funeral Of MP Energy Minister Over Power Cuts

Villagers in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, staged a symbolic funeral procession of Energy Minister Pradhuman Singh Tomar on Wednesday, protesting against long and frequent power cuts in their area. The protest began at the Ram Raja Temple and proceeded to the Sirsaud-Pichhore road, where the villagers performed a symbolic last rites ceremony and raised slogans against the government and the electricity department.

The villagers alleged that their area had been facing power cuts for several days, with some days experiencing disruptions for up to 10 hours. Despite assurances from a junior engineer of the electricity department that the problem would be resolved, the power supply was disrupted again on the same night, prompting the villagers to stage another protest.

During the protest, the villagers observed a symbolic silence and also protested by taking a bath near the village panchayat borewell motor. They warned that the protest would be intensified if the electricity supply situation was not improved soon.

The protest was sparked by the failure of the authorities to address the issue of power cuts, despite repeated complaints from the villagers. The villagers had earlier blocked the road for nearly three hours on Monday to protest the issue, but the problem persisted.

Meanwhile, police action was initiated against a youth who allegedly shared a fake Facebook post about the death of Energy Minister Pradhuman Singh Tomar. The post claimed that the minister had passed away and mentioned his symbolic funeral procession. However, the minister was undergoing treatment in New Delhi at the time, and the police registered an FIR against the suspect for allegedly spreading rumors and disturbing public peace.

The police appealed to people not to share any news on social media without verifying its authenticity and warned of strict action against those spreading false information.

The protest in Shivpuri highlights the growing frustration among villagers over the lack of basic amenities, including reliable electricity supply. The state government has been facing criticism over its handling of the power sector, with frequent power cuts and outages affecting daily life in many areas.

The Energy Minister, Pradhuman Singh Tomar, has been under treatment in a Delhi hospital, and his office has not commented on the protest. However, the protest has sparked a wider debate about the need for improved electricity supply and the accountability of the government in addressing the issue.

In conclusion, the protest in Shivpuri is a reflection of the deeper issues affecting the power sector in Madhya Pradesh. The state government needs to take urgent action to address the issue of power cuts and ensure that villagers have access to reliable electricity supply. The protest also highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in the government's handling of the power sector.

The incident has also raised questions about the role of social media in spreading false information and the need for greater awareness about the dangers of rumor-mongering. The police action against the youth who shared the fake post is a welcome step, but more needs to be done to prevent the spread of false information on social media.

Overall, the protest in Shivpuri is a wake-up call for the state government to take action to address the issue of power cuts and ensure that villagers have access to basic amenities. It is also a reminder of the need for greater accountability and transparency in the government's handling of the power sector.