Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has accused the BJP Government of engaging in political vendetta in the coal and liquor scams. Speaking to the media at Swami Vivekanand Airport, Baghel said that despite two years of investigation by the central agencies IT and ED, no final report was submitted. Now, with the BJP in power, the investigation has been handed over to the Economic Offence Wing (EOW). “It is strange that central agencies, after two years, couldn’t submit a final report. The Supreme Court has already dismissed the liquor scam for lack of merit, yet the EOW is taking accused persons into remand for questioning.

 

This clearly indicates political vindictiveness,” stated Baghel. On the Jhiram Ghati incident, Baghel revealed that his government had repeatedly requested the Union government to permit a state-led investigation into the Naxalite attack that resulted in the deaths of several Congress leaders. He criticized the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for not properly investigating the alleged conspiracy angle, as claimed by Congress. Baghel assured that once the INDI Alliance comes to power at the center, the NIA will reinvestigate the matter. Baghel also condemned the BJP leaders’ recent remarks, describing them as seduced and bizarre. He contrasted the Congress’s achievements in nationalising banks, initiating irrigation projects, and building infrastructure and technical institutes, with the BJP’s lack of action over the past decade. “The BJP makes grand statements about capturing PoK but has done nothing to reclaim Indian territory from Chinese control,” he asserted. Addressing comments by Home Minister Vijay Sharma, Baghel suggested that Sharma’s mental condition was questionable due to his substandard statements.

 

He urged Sharma to focus on his district, citing numerous incidents occurring there. Baghel dismissed the BJP’s statements on Rohingya Muslims as mere vote politics, pointing out that despite six months in power, the BJP had not identified a single Rohingya Muslim as previously claimed. Regarding infrastructure in the Naxal-affected areas, Baghel claimed significant progress during the Congress rule, including the establishment of camps in core sectors, construction of two bridges over the Indravati river, reopening of schools, and road development, all contributing to rapid area development. “The current government will benefit from the good work done by the Congress. The BJP lacks plans and policies to tackle the Naxal problem and has not initiated any dialogue or rehabilitation measures as promised by Home Minister Vijay Sharma as soon as the BJP came to power,” Baghel accused.