Pregnancy test ahead of mass wedding in Madhya Pradesh, govt lands in major controversy

BHOPAL: The BJP government forcing brides to undergo pregnancy tests ahead of mass weddings they conducted has landed them in a major controversy. The incident happened in Dindori's Gadsarai area ahead of a mass wedding under the 'Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah/Nikah Yojana'.

Of the 219 girls, the tests for five were positive. The Congress strongly protested the incident and asked who ordered the tests. The party demanded an inquiry into the incident and termed as an insult to the poor. The chief medical and health officer of Dindori, Dr Ramesh Marawi, said normally, tests are conducted for age verification, sickle cell anaemia and to ascertain physical fitness.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath also came forward against the incident. "On whose orders was this done to the daughters of Madhya Pradesh? The chief minister should answer this. Do the daughters of the poor tribals have no dignity in the eyes of the chief minister? The hateful attitude towards all women is also evident here," tweeted Kamal Nath.