PM Narendra Modi can’t escape questions about Adani, and BJP’s resort to legal cover to disqualify Rahul from LS is a stark manifestation of its dictatorial attitude, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel tells TOI’s Subodh Ghildiyal. Excerpts from the interview:
How do you see the whole drama about Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification?
This is dictatorial mindset of BJP. They are orchestrating an elaborate theatre to evade answering just one specific question — where did Rs 20,000 crore in Adani’s shell companies come from? Dictators around the world resort to such tactics — scare the opposition, put leaders in jail and disqualify them from Parliament. Rahul says “daromat” and they are out to scare him. The truth is that the dictator is worried as to what will happen if people stop being scared of him? The truth is the government was worried how long could they shut the Parliament just to stop Rahul from speaking.
BJP is alleging that Rahul insulted OBCs? Are Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi OBCs?
They are upper class. Modi surname is written by many, like Piloo Modi was a Parsi. My surname Baghel is used by tribals, Rajputs, even SCs in Chhattisgarh. I am an OBC. Yo u can project Congress in whatever light y ou want, but answer the question: who put Rs 20,000 crore in Adani’s companies.
Polls are due in Chhattisgarh this year and the state will be a focus area of BJP’s campaign that Rahul’s remark on Modi surname is anti-OBCs, like the PM’s appeal to Sahu community in 2019. How would you deal with it?
“Kaath ki handi ek bar chadti hai”. What has the PM done for Sahus or Telis or OBCs? They will not vote every time. If you are such a benefactor of OBCs, then why don’t you order “caste census”? Chhattisgarh’s bill increasing reservation for backwards and tribals is p ending with the governor for four months. If you are so sympathetic to OBCs, then get our bill approved. BJP’s national vicepresident Thakur Raman Singh called me a “Chhota aadmi”, and I am a CM and anOBC. In Bhanupratappur bypolls, Raman Singh called me “a rat, a dog, a cat” in public. This is the mindset of BJP’s Thakur Raman Singh about OBCs. The Modi government is targeting OBC leaders — Teja shwi Yadav, M Stalin, Akhilesh Yadav. In Chhattisgarh, the ED has made a permanent station. Are you doing anything good for OBCs, by action or attitude?
Congress made Rafale an issue but it did not fly with people? Will your focus on Adani have popular resonance?
This is a big issue. After Hindenburg report, Adani has fallen from second richest man to nobody knows which rank. The funds of LIC and SBI has been inv ested in Adani firms. The share value has fallen. The ED and I-T haven’t gone to Adani, while the opposition-governed states are raided daily. People will understand the truth. When water is released from dam, it takes time to reach the tail end.
How big a setback is Rahul’s disqualification for the party?
This is not a setback for Congress. It has proved how scared the Modi government is of Congress and Rahul.
How do you see the whole drama about Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification?
This is dictatorial mindset of BJP. They are orchestrating an elaborate theatre to evade answering just one specific question — where did Rs 20,000 crore in Adani’s shell companies come from? Dictators around the world resort to such tactics — scare the opposition, put leaders in jail and disqualify them from Parliament. Rahul says “daromat” and they are out to scare him. The truth is that the dictator is worried as to what will happen if people stop being scared of him? The truth is the government was worried how long could they shut the Parliament just to stop Rahul from speaking.
BJP is alleging that Rahul insulted OBCs? Are Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi OBCs?
They are upper class. Modi surname is written by many, like Piloo Modi was a Parsi. My surname Baghel is used by tribals, Rajputs, even SCs in Chhattisgarh. I am an OBC. Yo u can project Congress in whatever light y ou want, but answer the question: who put Rs 20,000 crore in Adani’s companies.
Polls are due in Chhattisgarh this year and the state will be a focus area of BJP’s campaign that Rahul’s remark on Modi surname is anti-OBCs, like the PM’s appeal to Sahu community in 2019. How would you deal with it?
“Kaath ki handi ek bar chadti hai”. What has the PM done for Sahus or Telis or OBCs? They will not vote every time. If you are such a benefactor of OBCs, then why don’t you order “caste census”? Chhattisgarh’s bill increasing reservation for backwards and tribals is p ending with the governor for four months. If you are so sympathetic to OBCs, then get our bill approved. BJP’s national vicepresident Thakur Raman Singh called me a “Chhota aadmi”, and I am a CM and anOBC. In Bhanupratappur bypolls, Raman Singh called me “a rat, a dog, a cat” in public. This is the mindset of BJP’s Thakur Raman Singh about OBCs. The Modi government is targeting OBC leaders — Teja shwi Yadav, M Stalin, Akhilesh Yadav. In Chhattisgarh, the ED has made a permanent station. Are you doing anything good for OBCs, by action or attitude?
Congress made Rafale an issue but it did not fly with people? Will your focus on Adani have popular resonance?
This is a big issue. After Hindenburg report, Adani has fallen from second richest man to nobody knows which rank. The funds of LIC and SBI has been inv ested in Adani firms. The share value has fallen. The ED and I-T haven’t gone to Adani, while the opposition-governed states are raided daily. People will understand the truth. When water is released from dam, it takes time to reach the tail end.
How big a setback is Rahul’s disqualification for the party?
This is not a setback for Congress. It has proved how scared the Modi government is of Congress and Rahul.
source
The post is published through a syndicated feed and attributed to Times Of India
