It is a battle between Diwali and Dussehra narratives this yr in Chhattisgarh’s pageant of democracy.
It started with Home Minister Amit Shah firing the primary salvo from his rally in Jagdalpur the place he stated poll-bound Chhattisgarh would have fun Diwali thrice this yr to mark the BJP coming again to energy within the state.
Hitting again on the assertion, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, whereas talking to CNN-News18 in neighbouring Dantewada, stated Shah is mistaken.
“Amit Shah ke sapne kabhi saakar nahi honge….wo mugalte mein hain. Diwali ek hi baar aati hai per usse pehle Bastar mein Dussehra manega,” he stated after providing prayers on the Danteshwari temple in Dantewada.
Dussehra is taken into account essentially the most auspicious pageant in Bastar as a chariot from Dantewada temple strikes to Jagdalpur amidst fanfare and participation from tribals throughout the area.
Baghel tried to encash on the feelings as he mingled amongst devotees after providing his prayers and shared his views forward of elections with News18.
Corruption
BJP has accused Baghel of non-public corruption, with Amit Shah asking in Kondagaon the place the cash despatched by the Centre for growth of the state was disappearing. “There was a Congress government at the Centre for 10 years which gave only Rs 29,000 crore for tribal welfare across the country. After Modi-ji became the prime minister, Rs 1,32,000 crore was spent on tribal welfare. The money was however sent to Congress’s Dilli Darbar,” Shah stated.
An irate Baghel countered that in return, the Centre had earned crores from the sources of the state. “If the Centre gives money to Chhattisgarh, it isn’t a favour… instead, they earn more money from resources like iron, coal or bauxite that the state provides,” he instructed CNN-News18.
Privatisation has been a working theme all through Baghel’s election campaigns. He alleged that the BJP authorities’s privatisation coverage was solely meant to profit the non-public sector at the price of individuals of the state. “Bastar waalon ne nagarnar ki zameen neeji haathon mein dene ke liye nahi saunpi thi (Centre ko),” he stated, including: “Vishwaguru aaye the lekin unhone ek shabd nahi kaha ki neeji haathon mein nahi jayega. Aaj amit shah ji bhi kuch nahi bole [PM Modi came to Chhattisgarh but did not say a word about land not going into private hands. Today Amit Shah too did not say anything.]”
The chief minister alleged that when the prime minister got here, your complete Bastar noticed a shutdown, with “people from forests around Dantewada protesting against proposed privatisation of mines”.
Baghel additionally questioned why passenger trains had stopped plying within the state. “The Centre’s love for these resources (of state) is such that goods trains operate non-stop to ferry coal or iron but passenger trains have been stopped. Even in the festive season, passenger trains from here are not running. They (Centre) only care about the mines of Chhattisgarh,” he alleged.
Mahadev App
At an election rally in Bastar, Shah stated the Mahadev on-line betting app rip-off might be price round Rs 5,000 crore. “Kissi ko bakhsha nahi jayega [no one will be spared],” he thundered from the stage. However, Baghel was fast to counter him as he requested why the promoters of the app, towards whom the state has issued a look-out round, haven’t been arrested but.
“A total of 450 people have been arrested by the state government in this case. Let Amit Shah-ji tell the people why Mahadev app promoters have not been arrested. That responsibility is of the government of India. What understanding do you have with them? Instead of shutting such apps, you have placed a 28 per cent GST on gambling. Do you want to earn taxes through such apps? We issued a look-out circular against Mahadev app promoters but why is the Union government not arresting them?” he requested.
Rejecting the cost of non-public corruption, Baghel termed it a political witch-hunt. “You only raid political people and then you recover nothing. Amit Shah-ji, don’t try to scare me. In the last four years, ED and I-T have tried all tricks. Now, they wish to bring in CBI through courts. My suggestion to them is to bring in some international agency also; still nothing will be proved,” he stated.
Baghel additionally hit again on the BJP management on the corruption problem. “So far as personal corruption is concerned… sabse bada lootera jo hai uske nomination mein gaye the rajnandgaon and the MLA who is accused in Saradha chit fund scam is roaming around the state. But these supporters of corrupt people have not said a word about what they will do for Chhattisgarh if voted to power.”
Internal Tussle?
The Congress has saved the guessing recreation on between TS Deo and Bhupesh Baghel’s chief ministership. While BJP has been taking a dig on the alleged infighting, Baghel dismissed the speculations and requested BJP to look inside.
“BJP’s infighting is at a level that Vasundhara Raje is not stepping out in Rajasthan while Raman Singh, who was chief minister for 15 years, has not been declared CM face here,” he signed off.
