- Wednesday, April 23, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE chief minister of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chhouhan, on Thursday (6) washed the feet of the tribal man who was recently insulted by a man who urinated on him. The deplorable incident sparked a massive outrage across the country, prompting the state’s government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party of prime minister Narendra Modi, to act swiftly.
Chouhan, who vowed to take strong action after a video of the incident in the state’s Sidhi district went viral, also extended a heartfelt apology to the 36-year-old tribal man named Dasmat Ravat, who belongs to Karaundi, Madhya Pradesh. A video of the BJP leader washing Ravat’s feet at the chief minister’s residence in state capital Bhopal also went viral.
He also felicitated him, ate with him and planted a sapling with him.
यह वीडियो मैं आपके साथ इसलिए साझा कर रहा हूँ कि सब समझ लें कि मध्यप्रदेश में शिवराज सिंह चौहान है, तो जनता भगवान है।
किसी के साथ भी अत्याचार बर्दाश्त नहीं किया जायेगा। राज्य के हर नागरिक का सम्मान मेरा सम्मान है। pic.twitter.com/vCuniVJyP0
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) July 6, 2023
VIDEO | "I am saddened with that incident. I apologise for what happened," Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan tells Sidhi incident victim, whom he met in Bhopal earlier today.
(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/OmSSlle8hl
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 6, 2023
Chouhan also spoke with Ravat, inquiring about his livelihood and whether his family benefited from government schemes. In a touching reference to the story of Sudama, Lord Krishna’s impoverished childhood friend who received abundant gifts, the chief minister declared Dasmat as his friend, stating, “Dasmat, now you are my friend.”
Chouhan also took to Twitter to share pictures of their meeting and wrote in Hindi, “Dashmat ji, this is an attempt to share your pain. I also apologize to you, for me, the public is God.”
In another tweet sharing videos of his action, he said, “Atrocities with anyone will not be tolerated. The respect of every citizen of the state is my respect.”
Ravat also expressed his gratitude, noting that the chief minister even called and spoke with his family. Overwhelmed with the support he received, he left with a sense of contentment.
Meanwhile, the man responsible for the act, Pravesh Shukla, was apprehended under the National Security Act. Shukla, who allegedly has ties to the ruling party, faced severe repercussions, including a partial demolition of his residence.
The opposition Indian National Congress slammed the incident and accused the BJP of not protecting the tribals.
VIDEO | “If he (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) would have been honest, he wouldn’t have brought in a camera and broadcasted the whole thing,” says Congress leader Kamal Nath on Madhya Pradesh CM meeting Sidhi incident victim earlier today. pic.twitter.com/SDhTK29Sfe
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 6, 2023
Former chief minister Kamal Nath, who strongly condemned the urinating incident, was not convinced with Chouhan’s feet-washing act. Speaking to reporters, he said, “If he (Chouhan) would have been honest, he wouldn’t have brought in a camera and broadcasted the whole thing.”
Madhya Pradesh is home to the biggest tribal population in India with the tribals constituting 21 per cent of its population.
