Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gaurav Bhatia on Saturday (October 21) launched a scathing attack on the Chhattisgarh government, accusing it of being entangled in various scams and admonishing Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to concentrate on the Constitution rather than "Gandhi Chalisa". Bhatia's comment was a jibe at Baghel's allegiance to the Nehru-Gandhi family.
Bhatia described the murder of BJP worker Birju Ram Taram in the Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district as "targeted" during a press conference. He claimed that it exemplified the state's deteriorating law and order situation under Congress rule.
The victim, a tribal named Taram, was fatally shot outside his home in Sarkheda village, which is located within the Naxal-affected Aundhi police station area.
Bhatia emphasised the concerns of Chhattisgarh's youth, questioning the state's lack of job opportunities. He claimed that being the children of members of Congress and close associates of the chief minister appeared to be the primary criteria for selection in the state's public service commission.
"Youths of the state are asking why they didn't get jobs. Being children of Congressmen and close aides of the chief minister has become the criteria of selection in state public service commission. Those who wrote correct answers in PSC were not given marks. Even the High Court has commented on the issue," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
"The CM says he has not received a complaint (on irregularity in PSC recruitment). Instead of reading 'Gandhi Chalisa', Baghel should read the Constitution on which he has taken oath. It is not written anywhere in the Constitution that a complaint is necessary to take action," Bhatia added.
In response to Chief Minister Baghel's claim that he had received no complaints about irregularities in public service commission recruitment, Bhatia emphasised the importance of the Constitution, emphasising that a formal complaint was not required to prompt action.
Bhatia accused the Congress of engaging in various scams and promised that if the BJP came to power, it would ensure justice for the people.
In relation to Taram's murder, Bhatia stated that the party would vigorously seek justice for the targeted killing of its employee, PTI reported. He claimed that law and order had deteriorated in Chhattisgarh and that the Baghel government had engaged in corruption, despite the fact that the chief minister had made no public statements about the incident, it said.
According to the report, Bhatia also claimed that religious conversion activities and targeted killings were being carried out on a large scale in Chhattisgarh's tribal regions.
Bhatia argued that, in contrast to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to empower the nation, the Baghel government was undermining Chhattisgarh through appeasement, religious discrimination, and the erosion of tribal culture.
In response to Bhatia's remarks, Sushil Anand Shukla, the state Congress communication wing chief, accused the BJP of politicising Taram's death. Shukla questioned whether the incident was used for political gain and demanded an investigation into both the murder and the BJP's alleged involvement in the case.