During the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly’s budget session in Bhopal, Congress MLA Babu Jandel from Sheopur staged a unique protest outside the Assembly by performing a headstand in front of the Gandhi statue. Jandel described this act as a form of Gandhian penance and Satyagraha in response to what he perceived as political harassment by the ruling government.
Jandel alleged that he had faced continuous political harassment through false cases, with three new FIRs registered against him in the last month alone, bringing the total to 15 cases. He claimed that these legal actions were a result of his efforts to raise public issues, particularly those related to cow protection and community concerns.
The legislator, positioning himself upside down near the iconic statue, emphasized that his protest was a non-violent resistance inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles. He vowed to continue his demonstration until all FIRs against him were unconditionally withdrawn, drawing significant attention during the session and sparking discussions both inside and outside the Assembly.
The opposition Congress party supported Jandel’s protest, viewing it as a legitimate exercise of democratic rights against the alleged misuse of state machinery to suppress dissenting voices. In contrast, the ruling BJP dismissed the headstand as a political stunt aimed at garnering attention rather than addressing substantive issues, asserting that legal actions against Jandel were based on valid complaints and evidence.
