Shah spreading falsehoods about Maoism in Chhattisgarh, says Baghel

Challenging Union Home Minister Amit Shah for a debate, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was making false claims on no action being taken against Maoists under Congress governments in the State.

Current Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, meanwhile, accused Mr. Baghel of lying and covering up for his government’s failure.

In a video posted on his social media profile, Mr. Baghel – who was the State’s Chief Minister from 2018 to 2023 – referred to Mr. Shah’s statement in Lok Sabha on Monday, and highlighted development works done by his government.

“Amit Shah ji claimed that our government did not support efforts against Maoism. This is completely untrue. I challenge him to debate this at a time and place of his choice. The people of the State and the country should not be misled,” he said.

He pointed out the Congress government’s initiatives in Bastar, including implementing the Forest Rights Act, opening schools, establishing health facilities, and distributing ration cards.

“While the BJP government denied these benefits, we worked to build trust with local communities. As Naxal influence receded, development initiatives expanded, 600 villages were cleared of the menace, and people returned to the mainstream,” he added.

“I want to ask Amit Shah ji as he had announced that once a village is declared Naxal-free, ₹1 crore would be provided to that village. Now that Naxalism has ended, when will ₹1 crore be given to every village in Bastar?” he further said in the video.

“He [Mr. Shah] has been continuously spreading falsehoods. It is an insult to our DRG personnel who sacrificed their lives in fight against Naxalism. All the development work we carried out is duly recorded. Shah should feel ashamed, stop spreading lies, and apologise to the people of Chhattisgarh,” Mr. Baghel added.

Another senior leader and Congress State chief, Deepak Baij, also questioned the BJP’s claims and alleged that Maoism spread across Chhattisgarh while it was ruled by the BJP under former Chief Minister Raman Singh.

Mr. Sai questioned these claims, saying that: “What Bhupesh Baghel has said is completely untrue. He is trying to cover up his government’s failure”.

He said that when he assumed power in December 2023, a review by the Union Home Minister revealed that over 75% of Maoist activity in the country was in Chhattisgarh

“Had the previous government shown firmness and sincerity in fighting Maoism during its five-year tenure, the situation would have been different. The then State government did not cooperate with the Centre at all, and Baghel’s statements are simply false,” the Chief Minister said.