Raipur: In an unusual spiritual initiative, Chhattisgarh’s Home Minister Vijay Sharma distributed sacred Sangam water to prisons across the state, allowing inmates to partake in a symbolic “snan” (holy bath) as part of the ongoing Maha Kumbh celebrations. The move, which was met with both praise and political controversy, saw approximately 18,000 prisoners across 33 jails participate in the ritual.
The initiative, intended to provide inmates with a sense of religious and spiritual purification, took place in five central prisons, 20 district jails, and eight sub-jails. Prison authorities mixed the Ganga Jal with regular water, allowing inmates to symbolically cleanse themselves while chanting “Har Har Gange.”
Speaking about the event, Minister Sharma defended his actions, stating, “I recently visited Prayagraj, brought Ganga Jal, and distributed it to all state jails. This Ganga snan has strengthened our cultural traditions and the spirit of the Maha Kumbh. The inmates were able to purify themselves spiritually.”
However, the opposition Congress party sharply criticized the move, labeling it a “political gimmick.” Leader of the Opposition Charandas Mahant mockingly remarked, “If Ganga Jal is believed to wash away sins, does this mean all convicted criminals have been absolved of their crimes? Should we now release them from jail since they have been cleansed?”
Deepak Brij, head of the state Congress unit, also took a jibe at the ruling BJP, calling it a “strange tamasha” (spectacle). “Can criminals become saints simply by taking a bath in Ganga Jal? If that is the case, perhaps the chief minister and state ministers should also bathe in it to cleanse their karma.”
The BJP, in response, accused the Congress of playing politics over Ganga Jal and cultural sentiments.
While the debate rages on, prison officials maintain that the initiative was purely a spiritual exercise aimed at encouraging inmates toward self-reflection and reform. Whether it will have a lasting impact remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly sparked a larger conversation about faith, justice, and governance in the state.
