Poem Critical of Gandhi At School Event Sparks Row In Madhya Pradesh

The poem, recited at an event in Seoni's CM Rise School, accused the Mahatma of being "silent" during a "period of violence" -- an apparent reference to the Partition.

A poem criticising Mahatma Gandhi recited by a school student appears to have sparked a new political flashpoint in Madhya Pradesh. The poem, recited at an event in Seoni's CM Rise School, accused the Mahatma of being "silent" during a "period of violence" -- an apparent reference to the Partition. The poem also questioned who were the ones who went to the gallows for the country, if only the spinning wheel won India freedom "as we were taught".

In a video that is being widely circulated, Seoni's BJP MLA Dinesh Rai Munmun -- who was on the stage -- was seen clapping. The MLA was attending the event that was held on February 5 as part of Vikas Yatra of Madhya Pradesh government.

"Mocking Mahatma Gandhi cannot be excused. The BJP and the RSS (the BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) have never had any regard for Gandhiji," said district Congress chief Raj Kumar Khurana.

He said the fault lies not with the student but "those who taught him to recite that poem".