12 minutes agoAuthor: Swadhin Patel
The ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme organised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Indore on 19 September has triggered a political controversy, with critics dubbing the event “Jhooton Ki Goonj” and questioning the figures and allegations raised about government recruitments, vacancies and social issues in Madhya Pradesh.
But a review of Bhaskar English’s own reporting on the issues cited at the event shows that several of the underlying problems have been independently reported by Bhaskar English over the past few months.
13% Hold: Thousands of selected candidates still waiting
One of the major issues highlighted at the event was the long-running 13% hold on government recruitments in Madhya Pradesh.
Bhaskar English has extensively reported on the issue.
In one detailed report, Bhaskar English reported that nearly 18,000 selected candidates, including teachers, police constables and administrative recruits, were waiting for appointment letters because of the legal dispute surrounding OBC reservation and the state’s 87:13 recruitment formula.
The report also documented the experiences of candidates who had cleared recruitment examinations but were working as labourers, factory workers or in private jobs while waiting for their appointments. Click here to read about the report
The issue has also reached the Supreme Court. Bhaskar English reported that the court questioned the state government over the continued holding of the posts. Click here to read about the report
The 13% figure has also appeared in reporting on MPPSC recruitment. Bhaskar English reported that 13% of seats remained on hold in the MPPSC 2024 recruitment. Click here to read about the report
In another report, Bhaskar English covered the state government’s attempt to seek removal of the hold, with the Supreme Court asking the government, in effect, what had prevented it from taking action earlier. Click here to read about the report
The issue, therefore, is not a figure created specifically for the Indore event. The 13% hold and its impact on selected candidates have been part of the state’s recruitment story for years.
Rajgarh child marriage data: What do the reports show?
Another issue raised at the programme concerned child marriage in Rajgarh.
Bhaskar English has previously reported official figures showing that child marriages continue to be recorded across Madhya Pradesh, with Rajgarh among the districts reporting a high number of cases.
In 2023, Rajgarh recorded 87 cases, according to the figures cited in the report. Click here to read about the report
Bhaskar English also carried a separate report from Rajgarh District Hospital that highlighted the consequences of early marriage and teenage pregnancy.
According to that report, 75 minor brides became mothers over a six-month period. The report said 52 of them delivered 53 babies who were found to be malnourished, while 10 infants died within 30 days of birth. Click here to read about the report
121 ST Civil Judge posts: Why were they left unfilled?
Another specific issue concerns recruitment to the post of Civil Judge.
Bhaskar English reported on the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s intervention after 121 posts reserved for Scheduled Tribes remained without selections in the 2022 recruitment process.
The report said only 47 candidates were selected against around 192 posts and that the High Court considered the complete absence of ST selections a serious issue.
The court subsequently ordered a revised selection process with relaxed qualifying criteria. Click here to read about the report
Jitu Patwari, President of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), had also raised questions
Teacher Recruitment: Selection did not always mean immediate appointment
The question of teacher recruitment provides another example.
Bhaskar English reported that more than 5,000 selected teachers eventually received appointment letters after nearly two years of uncertainty and protests. Click here to read about the report
In another report, selected candidates were shown protesting over delays in school choice filling and appointment orders even after the selection process had been completed. Click here to read about the report
Selected teachers were protesting for two years regarding their appointment.
Selected teachers had protested outside the DPI regarding appointments.
Bhaskar English earlier investigation into the 18,000 candidates waiting for appointments also specifically included teachers among those affected by the 13% hold. Click here to read about the report
The Bigger Question: Numbers Or The Underlying Problem?
The political dispute over “Chhatron Ki Goonj” versus “Jhooton Ki Goonj” ultimately depends on what is being fact-checked.
If the question is whether every number used at a political event exactly matches the latest official tally, each figure needs to be checked separately against the relevant government record.
But if the question is whether the problems themselves are real, Bhaskar English’s own reporting provides substantial evidence that they are.
Therefore, describing the entire Indore programme as based on “lies” would require addressing this existing body of reporting as well.
That distinction is important when assessing claims made at a political programme:a number can require correction without making the underlying problem fictional.
