One of them is a tech-savvy seer and another a former model who travels in SUVs. But all of them have been vocal about saving Narmada.
New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has accorded ‘minister of state (MoS)’ status to five religious leaders, Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj, Computer Baba, Bhayyu Maharaj and Pandit Yogendra Mahant.
On 31 March, the five were appointed as members of a committee set up to protect the Narmada, and it is in recognition of this role that they have reportedly been granted MoS status.
Here’s what you need to know about MP’s ‘minister babas’:
‘Computer baba’
Swami Namdev Tyagi is known as ‘Computer Baba’ because he claims he has a brain that works as fast as a computer. He made headlines in January 2017 for protesting against the MP government’s “interference” in the functioning of temples. Very tech-savvy, Computer Baba has a Facebook page with over 11,000 likes. In 2014, he got permission to land his chopper on the banks of the Narmada for a dip in the river during the Kumbh Mela.
He was supposed to launch the ‘Narmada ghotala rath yatra’ to expose corruption in conservation efforts, but the campaign now stands cancelled.
Bhaiyyu Maharaj
Formerly Udaysingh Deshmukh, the suave Bhayyu Maharaj travels in an SUV and has a posh ashram. A former model, he now identifies himself as a “spiritual guru”. He came to prominence with Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption campaign in 2011.
He is a spiritual adviser to many top leaders, including former President Pratibha Patil.
From providing scholarships to poor children to planting trees to combat water scarcity, he has pursued a wide range of social and environmental issues, even launching a ‘national anaemia eradication’ campaign.
He has, however, faced his share of controversy following accusations of cheating an actor and rumours about an affair with a sadhvi.
Pandit Yogendra Mahant
The coordinator of the Narmada scam campaign, Pandit Yogendra Mahant had earlier alleged corruption by the state’s BJP government in conservation drives for the river. He had said funds meant for planting trees had been diverted elsewhere. According to his Facebook profile, he is also the state president of the Vishwa Brahmin Sangh (USA).
Hariharanand Maharaj
Hariharanand Maharaj was among the leaders of the ‘Namami Devi Narmade sewa yatra’, one of India’s largest conservation drives. The yatra, launched by CM Chouhan, covered 3,344 km over 1,100 villages. It was concluded in May last year.
Narmadanand Maharaj
Popular across MP, Narmadanand Maharaj is the most low-key of the five. He organises rallies during prominent Hindu festivals like Ram Navami. He is an ardent devotee of Hanuman, and has organised many yatras in his name.