Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2023: Amit Shah Accuse Congress of Indulging in Appeasement and Vote Bank Politics
On 16th October 2023, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing a rally in Rajnandgaon city of Chattisgarh, attacked the Congress ruling Chhattisgarh government for indulging in appeasement and vote bank politics in the state.
He also emphasized that the Congress party will continue its appeasement and vote bank politics in the state if it is elected again in the upcoming Chhattisgarh assembly election 2023.
The Chhattisgarh assembly election will be held in two phases, scheduled for November 7 and November 17, 2023. This phased approach aims to facilitate efficient polling in the state. The votes will be counted on 3rd December 2023.
Appeasement Politics Warning
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a blistering attack on the ruling Congress government in Chhattisgarh, accusing it of pursuing “appeasement” and vote bank politics, warning that it would continue these practices if it were to return to power in the state.
Communal Violence and the Future of Chhattisgarh
Amit Shah, speaking at a rally in Rajnandgaon city, expressed his concerns about communal violence incidents under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. He questioned whether the citizens of Chhattisgarh desired to see their state embroiled in communal conflicts once more. This speech was delivered as a prelude to the filing of nominations by former Chief Minister Raman Singh and three other BJP candidates for upcoming elections.
Seeking Justice for Communal Riot Victims
The BJP has nominated Ishwar Sahu, the father of Bhuneshwar Sahu, a victim of the Biranpur riot in April this year, as a candidate from the Saja Assembly segment in Bemetara district. Amit Shah pointed to Bhuneshwar Sahu’s presence on the stage, noting that he had been “lynched for vote bank politics” and “appeasement.” Shah vowed to bring the murderers of Bhuneshwar Sahu to justice and announced the party’s decision to field his father as a candidate.
Transformation of Chhattisgarh
Shah further said the undivided Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh had remained a ‘BIMARU’ (laggard) state during the Congress rule, but in 15 years after Raman Singh came to power (in Chhattisgarh in 2003), it turned into a developed state.
Promises of an Anti-Corruption Crusade
During the rally, Amit Shah also criticized the Bhupesh Baghel government over corruption allegations. He alleged that the government had initiated a “corruption food chain” from the lowest administrative levels to the Chief Minister, with the proceeds flowing to Delhi. Shah depicted the Baghel government as an ATM for the Congress’ central leadership, referencing it as an ATM for the “Delhi Darbar.”
Commitment to Eradicating Corruption
Shah pledged that if a BJP government was elected in the state, it would recover every penny lost to corruption, and those implicated would face severe consequences. The BJP criticized the Baghel government, labeling it as a “Cut Ki aur Bat ki sarkar,” suggesting that it was involved in corrupt practices related to government projects.
Congress Response to Shah’s Comments
In response, the Congress asserted that Amit Shah’s statements were born out of frustration and aimed at sowing communal divisions. The party condemned his comments and accused him of resorting to communalism to gain an electoral advantage. The Congress emphasized that the government had acted promptly in response to violence incidents.
Moreover, the State unit of Congress, at a press conference in Raipur, criticized Amit Shah’s language as unbefitting of a Home Minister and expressed concerns about his divisive statements that could exacerbate communalism in Chhattisgarh’s election campaign.
“This statement of Amit Shah is not only objectionable but its sole purpose is to incite communal violence in the peaceful state of Chhattisgarh. The Home Minister made this statement with the intention of inciting hysteria for electoral gains. What he has said is absolutely false. The reality is that in this case of violence and counter-violence, the government took prompt action and arrested the accused and sent them to jail,” wrote General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh on X (formerly Twitter).
“In this matter, now the first responsibility to implement the code of conduct lies directly with the Election Commission. He should take cognizance of this inflammatory statement and take appropriate action by registering a case against Amit Shah. If this does not happen, there is a fear that BJP will not desist from spreading communalism in its election campaign in Chhattisgarh in future too,” Mr. Ramesh’s post added.
Click here to read Jairam Ramesh’s tweet.
