Chhattisgarh: CM Baghel, Raman Singh lock horns over corruption charges

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former chief minister Raman Singh locked horns on Twitter on Friday on the issue of corruption, a day after Baghel dared the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to initiate action against Singh and his son former MP Abhishek whose names have been linked to various scams and scandals like Panama Paper leaks, Chit-fund scam and Naan scam.

Baghel’s dare to ED came during a protest organised in Raipur against the questioning of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. The CM had said the ED was merely being used to target opposition leaders and government, and the officials did not have courage to question Raman Singh and his family members about the various scams for the fear of losing their jobs.

On Friday, Singh released a video message on Twitter, daring Baghel to produce evidence of even a rupee worth of corruption by him or his family members and said he would resign from public life if such evidence was shown. He said Baghel was trying to divert attention from issues and creating confusions, as he (Baghel) was fearing ED action after the recent Income Tax raids (on individuals and officials allegedly close to Baghel). The former CM said Baghel should rather tell the people of Chhattisgarh the truth about the corruption in coal transport, illegal sand mining and liquor trade.

In response, Baghel released a 3.17-minutes video titled ‘ghotala re, ghotala re, ghotala (scam, scam, scam) on Twitter with a Chhattisgarhi jingle listing different allegations of scams and scandals against Singh, his son and wife. In a tweet accompanying the video, Baghel said, “Stories written on walls do not become blurred in rain, you have registered various scams, which can’t be removed even if washed thoroughly. You and your relatives have played ‘common wealth’ (game) be it Panama Papers, Naan scam, DKS scam, Antagarh or Chit-fund scam. Remember Dr. Saheb (as Raman Singh is referred to) – renunciation.”

While Abhishek Singh’s name had surfaced with relation to Panama Paper leaks, Congress has been alleging involvement of Raman Singh and his family members in Naan scam that refers to the corruption in distribution of public distribution system rations, DKS scam that refers to alleged involvement of son-in-law of Singh in misuse of government fund for establishment of DKS super specialty hospital, Antagarh scam relating to the leaked viral audio of allegedly showing role of former CM late Ajit Jogi and his son Amit in getting a Congress candidate to withdraw nomination in favour of BJP in 2014 bypolls in Antagarh and Chit-fund scam,which is Rs 6,000 scam of chit fund companies that duped local investors.