Kamal Nath govt appoints Computer Baba head of River Trust

BHOPAL: The self-proclaimed godman, Namdev Das Tyagi aka 'Computer Baba' who had shot to fame after given cabinet minister status by the then chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the BJP ruled government, has got a new job as chairman of 'Ma Narmada, Ma Kshipra and Ma Mandakini River Trust' courtesy the Congress-led Kamal Nath government.

"The state government has appointed Namdev Das Tyagi aka Computer Baba, resident of Gommat Giri Ashram, Indore, as chairman of 'Ma Narmada, Ma Kshipra and Ma Mandakini Nadi Nyas (River Trust)' till further orders. The appointment will be effective with immediate effect", read the order issued by the spiritual department of MP government, on Saturday.

The state government though did not specify on the political or constitutional status of Computer Baba whether his appointment will be equivalent to a cabinet minister or minister of state, Computer Baba himself has clarified that a few more things were yet to be decided after Lok Sabha elections in the country.

"I am thankful to Congress president Rahul Gandhi and chief minister Kamal Nath for assigning me this work. I have decided to begin the task as soon as possible though there are some complications due to Lok Sabha elections and a team cannot be constituted during the polls. But he would focus his aim on the conservation of three rivers and check illegal mining and pollution", Computer Baba told TOI.

Baba, who was appointed by the previous BJP government to a five-member committee suggesting ways to conserve river Narmada in April 2018, had crossed swords with the then chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over ticket distribution during assembly polls. Computer Baba had sought assembly ticket from Jabalpur or Indore however, BJP did not accept his demand following which Baba made numerous public statements against the saffron party and CM and resigned from the body set up by Chouhan. Later he shifted his loyalty to Congress government and chief minister Kamal Nath during the assembly polls.

The godman also participated in political campaigns against BJP, appealing the public to vote for Congress. It was evident that after the triumph and formation of Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, Computer Baba would retain a suitable position in the government besides, an influential status, said sources.