Following ED raids on Bhupesh Baghel and his associates on Monday, a political firestorm erupted in Chhattisgarh, triggering a war of words between the Congress and BJP. Congress workers staged protests against the ED's actions, including burning effigies of the ED and the BJP-led central government in the state including capital city Raipur on Tuesday.
In Raipur, a large number of Congress members gathered at Nagar Nigam Chowk chanted slogans against both central and state BJP governments, resulting in a brief scuffle with police when they attempted to burn an effigy. Congress leaders accused the BJP of using central agencies for political vendettas.
Baghel alleged that the ED approached his house without a warrant. He further alleged that ED officials suggested him to avoid the Assembly proceedings. ED took Rs 33 lakh while leaving Rs 3 lakh. He claimed the ED's sole objective, directed by the BJP, was to target him. He further stated the timing of the raids on him and his associates, Kawasi Lakhma and Vijay Sharma, correlated with their questioning of BJP members in the Assembly, suggesting a deliberate attempt to defame opposition leaders, citing examples of raids during his election campaigning in other states.
Baghel also highlighted it took 7 years to get acquitted from court on the baseless charges against him. He further criticized that there are lots of important cases pending before ED, but the prosecution agency speed in investigating the cases like Biranpur and Mahadev Satta scams are pathetic.
However, on ED actions, the BJP dismissed the Congress's allegations, stating that honest leaders have nothing to fear and that the ED is simply performing its lawful duty.
