Bhupesh Baghel: ‘Modiji’s self-belief is shaken… clear that he has nothing worthwhile to say… only abuses Cong, Gandhi-Nehru family’

What issues did you raise in your last election campaign speech at Pandariya?

I slammed the BJP over the electoral bonds issue as people are unable to digest the fact that they took hundreds of crores through the scheme from beef producers and gambling companies. The BJP, which talks of Hindutva, bought their flags and banners using such money. They have also extorted businessmen.

I also spoke of the good works like cow dung procurement and vermicompost production that was initiated by the Congress and has now been stopped by the BJP. Lakhs of families, which depended on the schemes, have been affected by this.

How many seats is the Congress confident of winning in Chhattisgarh?

We will win at least six or seven (of the 11 seats in the state).

What do you have to say about Prime Minister Modi’s recent speeches in Chhattisgarh, where he slammed the Congress manifesto?

Modiji’s self-belief is shaken and hence he is speaking rubbish about the manifesto. It is clear from his speeches that he has nothing worthwhile to say. He has nothing to offer to the country and only abuses the Congress and the Gandhi-Nehru family.

Deputy CM Vijay Sharma claims you insulted security forces by terming the recent encounter in Kanker, where 29 Maoists were killed, as “fake”.

I said complaints of fake encounters were received after the BJP government took over. The Kanker encounter took place after I made this statement. But he took my statement and linked it to the encounter. It was an act of bravery by our forces and I am happy that we did not suffer any casualties. He must not make such statements while holding the office of deputy CM. It is a low-level thing to do.