Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading falsehoods, while refuting the party’s claim that the Chhattisgarh government had taken loans. He added that when financial status and arrangements of the state are compared with that of India, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, it is revealed that Chhattisgarh has not taken any loans from April to June, while its neighbouring state Madhya Pradesh has taken loans twice or thrice.
Baghel further slammed the BJP-led central government for its failure to address the situation in Manipur, where violence has erupted following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. He criticized the BJP, stating that despite claiming that his state has no communalism, Manipur has been burning for 50 days, and the Prime Minister has not made time to resolve the issue.
The Congress has been vocal about the outbreak of violence in the BJP-ruled Manipur state. Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi issued an appeal for peace and harmony in the state. An all-party meeting called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the situation in Manipur has begun in New Delhi.
The government has extended the ban on the internet for five more days, as Manipur is still witnessing incidents of arson, to prevent further disturbance of peace. The data services have also been banned to tackle the persisting unrest in the state. More than 100 people have lost their lives in the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Baghel’s allegations of the BJP telling lies add fuel to the ongoing war of words and political tussle between the two parties. Meanwhile, the situation in Manipur remains tense, with the government imposing a ban on internet services and data services to prevent further violence. The all-party meeting called by Union Home Minister Shah to take stock of the situation in Manipur might help resolve the issue and restore peace and harmony in the state.
