CM Bhupesh Baghel refutes corruption allegations, defends government’s achievements during No-Confidence Motion debate

Raipur Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel responded strongly to the no-confidence motion brought against his government in the monsoon session of the legislative assembly as the discussion on the same lasted for 12 hours. The Chief Minister vehemently refuted allegations of corruption in the coal and liquor cases and questioned the actions taken by the Central government against their own officials. He accused the opposition of hatching a conspiracy to defame the state government. Addressing the issue of alleged corruption in the coal sector, Baghel challenged the claims made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) about seizing properties worth hundreds of crores. He asserted that not even five hundred rupees were actually seized and pointed out that the state had incurred substantial losses due to lack of royalty increase since 2013. The CM expressed his opposition to ED’s extended powers, stating that they were now investigating even GST theft, which he disagreed with. He accused BJP leaders of being spokespersons for the ED and influencing its actions, claiming that press releases were sent to them before they were made public. Baghel also raised concerns over the investigation of the Jhiram Ghati case, where the statements of certain individuals were not taken, and their names were allegedly removed from the NIA report. He questioned the transparency of the investigation and demanded answers about the employment of Guddu Usendi’s children. Baghel stressed the progress made by his government in areas like education, nutrition, and irrigation in regions like Bastar and Surguja. He cited NITI Aayog’s rankings as recognition of their efforts to uplift the state. Regarding the agricultural sector, Baghel highlighted the subsidies provided to farmers for electricity and the Rajiv Nyay Yojana. He also applauded the Indian government’s decision to ban non-basmati rice exports, which he believed would benefit the nation economically. Taking a dig at the BJP, the Chief Minister criticized the party for allegedly having the largest number of fake memberships worldwide. He acknowledged the right of the opposition to bring a no-confidence motion in a democracy and expressed his gratitude to all the members during the session. Baghel concluded by emphasizing that the change his government brought was not just for the sake of power but had positively impacted the lives of the people, especially farmers and women. He cited improved infrastructure, education, and ration distribution as some of the tangible changes witnessed in the state.