BJP playing dirty politics in Punjab, claims Baghel

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday said the allegation of “security breach” during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab was BJP’s dirty politics meant to gain sympathy ahead of Assembly elections there.

Talking to reporters here, Baghel asked how the Punjab Chief Minister could have cleared the road for Mpdi’s convoy when there was a last-minute change in the Prime Minister’s programme.

The Prime Minister was to reach Ferozepur by helicopter but the weather didn’t permit him. He decided to go by road from Bathinda airport, Baghel said.

The Chief Minister also asked why Modi’s intelligence agencies did not inform him about such a demonstration and shouldn’t action be taken against them.

It was but natural that the people had blocked the road to protest as they were upset with Modi over the three farm laws he introduced and later repealed, Baghel said.

“When he knows very well that there is tremendous resentment among Punjabi people, then why did he plan to go there,” Baghel asked.

Actually, only a few hundred people had assembled at the public meeting venue in Ferozepur because of which Modi scripted the entire drama, Baghel alleged.

The BJP was now attempting to target a Dalit CM of Punjab and weaving a web to impose Section 356 in the state and sack an elected government, Baghel said.

Baghel further raised the issue of the 2013 Jheeram massacre in Chhattisgarh and asked if the BJP demanded the resignation of then Chief Minister Raman Singh.

An entire generation of Congress leadership was assassinated and no one sought the removal of Raman Singh, he said. 

“We accept that the Prime Minister must be provided security protocol and his life is of supreme importance no matter to which political party he belongs,” Baghel said.