It is a battle between Diwali and Dussehra narratives this year in Chhattisgarh’s festival of democracy.
It began with Home Minister Amit Shah firing the first salvo from his rally in Jagdalpur where he said
poll-bound Chhattisgarh would celebrate Diwali thrice this year to mark the BJP coming back to power in the state.
Hitting back at the assertion, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, while speaking to CNN-News18 in neighbouring Dantewada, said 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 said after offering prayers at the Danteshwari temple in Dantewada.
Dussehra is considered the most auspicious festival in Bastar as a chariot from Dantewada temple moves to Jagdalpur amidst fanfare and participation from tribals across the region.
Baghel tried to encash the sentiments as he mingled amongst devotees after offering his prayers and shared his views ahead of the elections with News18.
Corruption
BJP has accused Baghel of personal corruption, with Amit Shah asking in Kondagaon where the money sent by the Centre for the development 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 said.
An irate Baghel countered that in return, the Centre had earned crores from the resources 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 told CNN-News18.
Privatisation has been a running theme throughout Baghel’s
election campaigns. He alleged that the BJP government’s privatisation policy was only meant to benefit the private sector at the cost of the people of the state.
“Bastar waalon ne nagarnar ki zameen neeji haathon mein dene ke liye nahi saunpi thi (Centre ko),” he said, adding: “Vishwaguru aaye the lekin unhone ek shabd nahi kaha ki neeji haathon mein nahi jayega. Aaj amit shah ji bhi kuch nahi bole ”
The
chief minister alleged that when the prime minister came, the entire Bastar observed a shutdown, with “people from forests around Dantewada protesting against proposed privatisation of mines”.
Baghel also questioned why passenger trains had stopped plying in 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 said the Mahadev online betting app scam could be worth around Rs 5,000 crore.
“Kissi ko bakhsha nahi jayega ,” he thundered from the stage. However, Baghel was quick to counter him as he asked why the promoters of the app, against whom the state has issued a lookout circular, have not been arrested yet.
“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% 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 asked.
Rejecting the charge of personal 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 said.
Baghel also hit back at the BJP leadership on the corruption issue. “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 kept the guessing game on between TS Deo and Bhupesh Baghel’s chief ministership. While the BJP has been taking a dig at the alleged infighting, Baghel dismissed the speculations and asked the BJP to look within.
“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.
This article first appeared on News18.com here. 
