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Speaking at a rally in Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took aim at Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and the Congress government in the state, saying “they have not even spared the name of Mahadev”. He was referring to the Enforcement Directorate’s allegations the previous day that the CM had received kickbacks to the tune of Rs 508 crore from the promoters of the Mahadev app, an online betting platform.
Reacting to Modi’s comments, Baghel hit back, accusing the BJP of using central agencies against its political opponents.
Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases later this month – on November 7 and 17. The Congress’s main plank is its government’s welfare schemes, while the BJP is banking on a series of corruption allegations against Congress.
Speaking at a public rally in Durg district on Saturday, Modi said: “They have not even spared the name of Mahadev. Two days ago, a huge amount of cash was found, which came from gamblers. This money was looted from the Chhattisgarh people. The same money is going to Congress leaders. It is in the media now…,” he said.
“You know who is getting the money right? The Chief Minister should tell Chhattisgarh people what relation he has with those sitting in Dubai running this app,” the PM said, referring to the ED’s allegation that the Mahadev app’s promoters sent money to Baghel from the UAE.
Modi also alleged that the Congress government in the state was planning to frame members of the BJP: “I have heard that Congress leaders here are sending BJP a message, in a low voice, that this will be avenged. They said they will plant money on us and call the police. Who are you threatening? Who are you intimidating?”
Accusing the state government of corruption, Modi said: “You have sent Modi to Delhi to deal with corrupt people. Those who looted the poor in Chhattisgarh will have to pay back every penny. The corrupt government here has done one scam after another and betrayed your trust. Liquor, coal, PDS, Gauthan fraud, DMF fraud, rice milling fraud and Covid cess fraud. We will act against them when we come to power.”
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Hitting back later in the day, Baghel equated Friday’s ED allegations to a “second manifesto of the BJP”.
“Yesterday, the second manifesto of the BJP came in the evening in the form of an ED letter. I want to ask PM Modi what connection he has with Dubai. Why, even after we served a look out circular (against Mahadev app kingpins), are they not being arrested? This is the responsibility of the Indian government. Why has the Mahadev app not shut down yet? I ask the PM what deal did you have with them?” Baghel asked.
“Without verifying details, you made such an allegation against me! Understand the chronology… The PM comes, then the Home Minister comes…before them the ED is here, then money gets seized in the hotel,” he added.
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