Bhopal, February 27 (NationPress) - As the budget session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly unfolded in Bhopal, tensions escalated significantly when Congress MLA Babu Jandel from Sheopur executed a striking and unconventional protest outside the Assembly.

In front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the MLA performed a "Sheershasana" (extended headstand), which he labeled as a Gandhian act of penance and Satyagraha against what he perceives as injustice.

Jandel asserted that the current government has been subjecting him to relentless political harassment through fictitious legal cases. He claimed that in the last month alone, three new FIRs (first information reports) were filed against him, raising the total to 15.

According to him, these legal actions arose from his commitment to highlighting public issues, particularly those related to cow protection and community welfare.

He specifically pointed out an FIR that was lodged after he presented a memorandum to the collector in Shivpuri concerning cow protection, alongside another related to his involvement in a “Shiv Barat” (a religious procession for Lord Shiva) during Mahashivratri, where celebratory gunfire reportedly took place.

While positioned upside down near the iconic statue, Jandel proclaimed that as a proponent of Mahatma Gandhi's teachings, he was engaging in this form of non-violent protest. He vowed to persist with his demonstration until all FIRs filed against him were withdrawn without conditions.

This act swiftly captured attention on the tenth day of the session, transforming into a focal point of conversation both within and outside the legislative assembly.

The opposition Congress party characterized the protest as a valid exercise of democratic rights, standing against the misuse of state power to suppress dissenting voices.

Congress party members echoed Jandel's claims that he was being targeted for raising legitimate concerns of the populace, including issues related to animal welfare and local community interests.

Conversely, the ruling BJP dismissed the headstand as nothing more than political theatrics aimed at garnering publicity rather than tackling substantive matters.

They contended that law enforcement's actions were justified, based on credible complaints and evidence, and accused the opposition of using gimmicks to divert attention from essential legislative discussions.

This incident heightened the already charged climate in the Assembly, where discussions on budget allocations, agricultural issues, and law and order typically incite passionate exchanges.