Bhopal: A political row has erupted in Madhya Pradesh after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav made a comment on Lord Krishna during a recent Janmashtami event.
Objecting to the popular label ‘makhan chor’ (butter thief) associated with Krishna, the chief minister said the sobriquet was misleading.
Yadav said Lord Krishna’s childhood act of breaking butter pots was an act of rebellion against his maternal uncle Kansa’s exploitation.
“Even saying the word ‘Makhan Chor’ feels improper. Lord Krishna’s fondness for butter was such that it often ended up in the house of Kansa. His anger was that Kansa was consuming what rightfully belonged to him and still oppressing him,” Yadav claimed.
“There were thousands of cows in Gokul, and butter from there went to Kansa’s house. Krishna told his fellow cowherds: eat your butter, break the pot, but don’t let it reach our enemy. This was not theft but a message of resistance. Krishna’s leela is about love and protest against injustice, not about stealing,” the chief minister added.
Taking a cue from Yadav’s comment, the Culture department in MP has started working on a public awareness campaign that will portray Lord Krishna as a rebel, and not a butter thief.
Yadav’ comment triggered a row on social media and drew sharp criticism from Congress, which accused him of trying to rewrite traditions of Sanatana Dharma.
“Mohan Yadav wants to write his own version of history. For centuries, Krishna’s pastimes have been recorded and celebrated. Does he now want to change the ancient stories of Sanatana Dharma?” said Umang Singhar, Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.
Singhar said that the chief minister should better tell people “how he stole the people’s mandate for forming his government.”