BJP's Divide and Rule Plan Will Not Work in Chhattisgarh: CM Baghel

Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday said the BJP's plan of divide and rule will not work in Chhattisgarh and hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his statement accusing the Congress of doing appeasement politics for votes in the poll-bound state.

'BJP spreading hatred'

Talking to reporters at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur in the evening, he said the opposition BJP was left with no issues to raise in the state, where assembly polls will be held in two phases next month. Speaking at an election rally earlier in the day in Rajnandgaon, Shah attacked the Baghel government over communal violence in Biranpur village of Bemetara district in April and said the ruling party will continue doing appeasement politics for votes if it returns to power in Chhattisgarh after the polls.

Asked about Shah's statement, the Congress CM said, "Action was taken in the Biranpur incident and the accused were arrested. Police have also submitted a chargesheet in the court and compensation has been announced for the victim by the government. They BJP are left with no issues to raise. They will speak on only those things in which they have PhD." State Congress president Deepak Baij accused the saffron party of trying to spread hatred in view of the upcoming elections.

'BJP trying to disrupt welfare schemes'

"They always spit venom. For the last five years, they BJP-led central government tried to disrupt welfare schemes in the state and now during elections , they are spreading lies and venom. But it will have no impact. The Congress will register a historic win in the polls," he said. If Shah wants to punish the corrupt, he should first take action against former chief minister Raman Singh and his then-cabinet colleagues who were allegedly involved in graft during 2003-2018 BJP regime in the state, Baij said.

Polls in two phases

Polling to the 90-member assembly will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17. The Congress has declared candidates for 30 seats so far. Baghel and Baij later left for New Delhi to attend a party meeting slated on Tuesday. "A meeting will be held for finalising candidates for some of the remaining seats. Then we will request the party high command to release all the names of remaining nominees as soon as possible. The list may be declared a day or two after tomorrow's meeting," Baij said.

The BJP is trying to divide people on communal lines and spread hatred in Chhattisgarh, but the people of the state will not fall for their divisive politics. The Congress government has worked for the welfare of all sections of society and will continue to do so. The BJP's false propaganda will not have any impact on the people of Chhattisgarh, and the Congress will register a historic victory in the upcoming assembly elections.