A day after the raids on his shut political associates, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an unique interview, alleged that the BJP utilizing the Enforcement Directorate to “harass” political rivals and asserted that the Congress will win 75 seats within the 90-member Meeting.
You described the current Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids in your shut associates, together with the political adviser and two Officers on Particular Duties, as a present in your birthday. Do you’re feeling extra such ‘presents’ are within the offing?
Within the two-three days days, an Earnings Tax (I-T) group of 200-250 officers are going to come back for recent raids. Please notice that I’m saying within the subsequent two-three days.
Are you making an allegation or you’ve some particular data?
I’m saying this primarily based on data and to this point, our data has confirmed to be right.
Don’t you suppose these raids and allegations of corruption will create a damaging notion for you forward of the elections? Senior officers have been arrested just lately and BJP MP Vijay Baghel known as your authorities “most corrupt” within the current no-confidence debate within the Lok Sabha.
Folks of Chhattisgarh know who is true and who’s incorrect. The schemes of the earlier authorities [Raman Singh government] have been such that they’d purchase footwear and slippers, distribute mobiles and in all the things, there can be commission-khori [taking commissions]. Some folks would get ration playing cards whereas others wouldn’t. The earlier authorities was one in all fee brokers. Prior to now 4 years and eight months of our authorities, we’ve transferred almost ₹1.6 lakh crores to the beneficiaries. Whether or not it’s a farmer, employee, unemployed or those that promote cow dung muffins, all of them have gotten direct switch. The cost of corruption received’t make a distinction to us in these elections.
BJP has fielded their Mr. Baghel in opposition to you within the Meeting elections within the Patan constituency. Will a Baghel versus Baghel contest make it harder for you this time?
After yesterday’s raids, it’s not going to be Baghel versus Baghel. The opposite Baghel is on the margins, the primary struggle is versus ED and I-T. When the ED raids my OSD who takes care of my constituency work, it’s like raiding a political employee of Patan. So, the struggle is with ED and I-T. The principle agenda is to defame and suppress the Chhattisgarh authorities. What are they doing proper now? They go to the homes of the folks [who are named in Enforcement Case Information Report [or ECIR] and seize their telephones, confiscate money, jewelry, and financial institution accounts and put them underneath some sort of home arrest for four-five days. Since they don’t discover something, they are going to begin asking political questions like “what’s your position or which get together you belong to and so forth”. It means BJP isn’t contesting however ED and I-T will contest. For the previous three years, there have been over 200 raids in Chhattisgarh. Such issues pose a menace to democracy and courts ought to be aware of it and cease the harassment of individuals. It exhibits that the BJP is nervous as many individuals are keen to depart the get together after incorrect folks got tickets.
Are you assured that it is possible for you to win the State once more?
Our welfare schemes have ensured that 40 lakh folks have come out the poverty line and we’re assured that we’ll type the federal government and abki baar 75 paar [this time, we will cross 75 seats of the 90 Assembly seats].
Whereas the Congress has all the time accused the BJP of politicising Lord Ram, in Chhattisgarh, the identical cost is levelled in opposition to you.
The BJP seeks vote within the identify of Lord Ram, we don’t search votes as a result of it’s a matter of religion for us. Now we have promoted our native tradition by selling Ram van gaman path (retracing Lord Ram’s journey throughout his 14 years of exile), constructed Mata Kaushalya temple as it’s one in all its sort and organised a Ramayan mahotsav as Ramayan is recited in each dwelling. If you happen to go to Bastar and Sarguja, we’ve developed hundreds of Devgudi and Mata Gudi, locations which can be sacred for tribals. We maintain a world tribal dance pageant yearly and so forth. Earlier, folks solely seen Chhattisgarh by means of the prism of Naxalism, now they’re attending to see our wealthy tradition as effectively.
Aam Admi Social gathering (AAP) is a part of the INDIA bloc but AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited Chhattisgarh for election marketing campaign and provided 10 ensures.
I believe he could have gone for the 2024 polls, not for the 2023 Meeting elections. My get together’s prime management is taking part within the deliberations of INDIA bloc, I’m not. My boundary is restricted to Chhattisgarh and it makes no distinction, if somebody comes or goes.