Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday participated in ABP News Shikhar Sammelan where discussions were held regarding the state's political scenario amidst preparations for the upcoming Assembly Elections. CM Bhupesh Baghel highlighted the accomplishments of his government and also stated that the Congress aims to win more than 75 seats in the 2023 Chhattisgarh polls. "Humara target ab ki baar 75 paar (This time our target is that we will cross 75 seats)," he remarked.
On the construction of the Ram Gaman Path, CM Baghel said, "We have never asked for votes in the name of Ram, nor will we. Ram exists in every particle. There's Ram of Shabri, Bhansa Ram, Vanvasi Ram, and Ram of Kaushalya. Ram is a matter of faith, we won't seek votes based on work."
According to the Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh's identity was attributed to mining or Naxal incidents during the BJP's 15-year rule, however, his government has tried to highlight the identity of the state beyond that. "People didn't know it was Lord Ram's maternal home," he remarked.
In response to his party's association with religion, Bhupesh Baghel said, "We are not doing politics on religion, it is part of our culture."
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ABP Shikhar Sammelan Chhattisgarh: CM Bhupesh Baghel On ‘Revdi Vs Rabdi’ Politics
On the BJP's allegation that the Congress is promising "revdi" in a reference to freebies, he replied, "What is Revdi for you is public welfare for us. We're giving rice to the poor, that is Revdi. When the Indian government forgives hundreds of crores in loans for industrialist friends, that's not Revdi but Rabri."
When asked about former CM Raman Singh's claim that the Congress denied the existence of Lord Ram, Baghel responded, "The present (Modi) government has presented the same facts in court. The government has submitted documents based on those facts. We accept both the manifest and unmanifest forms of Ram. Everyone has their own Ram. Everyone has accepted Ram in different ways. But today, the BJP has turned Ram into a warrior, even showing Hanuman Ji in an angry posture. What image will they create for the coming generation?"
ABP Shikhar Sammelan Chhattisgarh: CM Bhupesh Baghel On Gram Swarajya, Poverty, And Reservation
Recounting the achievements of his government's work, Bhupesh Baghel mentioned Mahatma Gandhi's vision of Gram Swarajya (village self-governance). "In ancient times, production happened in villages, and cities were centers of trade. Today, we are taking Chhattisgarh in the same direction. Villages have prospered, industries have grown. Money is reaching everyone's pockets," he said.
Despite the Direct Transfer Scheme, Chhattisgarh continues to be seen as a poor state. On this, Bhupesh Baghel stated, "As per the NITI Aayog report, over the past five years, 4 million people have moved out of poverty in the state. In contrast, as per the RBI report, during the BJP's 15-year rule, 40% of Chhattisgarh's population lived below the poverty line. We have brought 4 million people out of poverty through DBT."
About employment, CM Bhupesh Baghel said that in his government, 2.6 million farmers are involved in various grain cultivation. People who had gone from villages to cities for employment are now returning due to the benefits of agriculture, he claimed.
"Thousands are employed in tendu leaf businesses. 300,000 women work in 10,000 collection centers. Rural industrial parks have generated employment. We are providing unemployment benefits to 1.22 million people," he added.
About the decision to increase the reservation limit to 76 per cent, Bhupesh Baghel emphasised, "We're not dividing, we're uniting. Reservation is being provided as per the Constitution and the recommendations of the commission. We have brought justice to the poor and also considered those living in the forests. We have taken care of farmers and traders as well."
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