Murder of BJP leader a sign of weakening Maoist movement in Chhattisgarh: CM Baghel

Several BJP leaders, including party’s national president J P Nadda and state unit president Arun Sao, claimed that BJP leaders were being “targeted” in Chhattisgarh and it was a “political conspiracy”.

Reacting to Sao’s comment on “political conspiracy”, Baghel said, “Is he denying it’s (Sahu’s murder) a Maoist attack? Also, what is the conspiracy, please tell us? Our police was probing the Bhima Mandavi murder case (BJP MLA killed in 2019 Dantewada Maoist attack) but they (Central government) sent it to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). What came out in the report? Does anyone know? If they want, this murder can also be investigated by the NIA or any other central agency. We have no issues.”

Baghel hit out at Nadda saying the BJP leader “acted strangely by suggesting that a fatal road accident of a BJP leader, Budhram Kartam, in Jagdalpur, Bastar district, last month was a murder committed by Maoists”. “Yesterday, Nadda ji came and paid last respects to the leaders who died and showed support to their families. But he also called a road accident of a person (BJP leader) in Jagdalpur a murder. We arrested the accused person involved in the accident and seized the car as well. The accused even confessed to him being involved in the accident. How is this being linked (by Nadda) to a Maoist attack?” Kartam, BJP secretary in Jagdalpur, was found dead on a road on January 17. The police said it was a hit-and-run case and they had arrested the accused.

On Maoists’ presence in the state, Baghel said, “Naxals have gone back. First, they used to attack from the front but now they have changed their strategy. Now they go to someone’s house, shoot them and run away. This means they have become weak and are constrained. See the records, about 600 villages are free of Naxal threat. This is an achievement of our security forces and our policies. As many as 300 schools that were shut during the BJP’s rule have been restarted… This is due to our policy of vishwas, vikas aur suraksha (trust, development and security).”

Speaking on outgoing Governor Anusuiya Uikey, Baghel said, “She had said I will sign (reservation Bills) within an hour. She gave this statement to the media and to me as well. But then some chits came. She is a very gentle and straightforward woman. I had said she is like my elder sister. But the way the BJP turned Raj Bhavan into a political arena was very unfortunate.”

Asked about his expectations from the new Governor, Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Baghel said, “He is an experienced MLA. Let him come first. We will welcome him and tell him our problems.”