‘Didn’t spare name of Mahadev’: Modi attacks Chhattisgarh govt over betting row

Durg, Nov 4 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over the alleged 'Mahadev' betting app scam, and said the Congress leader and the state government should tell people what links they have with the accused who are sitting in Dubai.

He also said the scams committed in Chhattisgarh under Congress rule would be investigated after the BJP government is formed and those who looted the money of people will be sent to jail.

Addressing a public meeting in Durg city of poll-bound Chhattisgarh, a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed that a forensic analysis and a statement made by a 'cash courier' have led to "startling allegations" that Mahadev betting app promoters paid about Rs 508 crore to Chhattisgarh CM Baghel so far, Modi said the CM (Baghel) has become frustrated after the money was recovered.

Modi also said the government will extend for five years the free ration scheme, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, covering 80 crore poor people.

He accused the Congress of treating the poor as a "vote bank" and abusing him and the entire Other Backward Classes (OBC) community.

"The Congress government in Chhattisgarh has not spared any chance to loot you. They have not even spared the name of 'Mahadev'. Just two days ago, a major action was taken (by the Enforcement Directorate) in Raipur and a huge pile of cash was recovered.

"People are saying that this is the money belonging to 'sattebaj' (those involved in betting) and they have collected it by looting the poor and youth of Chhattisgarh. Congress leaders have been filling their houses with the same money," Modi said.

In the media, it is being published that the money is linked to him, the PM said, apparently referring to CM Baghel.

"The Congress government and the chief minister should tell the people of Chhattisgarh what link they have with the accused in this scam sitting in Dubai. The CM (Baghel) became frustrated after the money was recovered. I have even heard that the (Congress) leaders here are conveying the message to us threatening that they will keep the money at our (leaders) places and send the police. Whom they are threatening? People know everything,” Modi said.

The prime minister said Congressmen abuse Modi day and night and that he faces "2.5 kg abuses" every day.

"But the Chief Minister (Baghel) has also started abusing the country's investigating agencies. Modi is not scared of abuses. You have sent Modi to Delhi only to take action against the corrupt. Action will be taken against those who have looted the poor of Chhattisgarh," he said.

Modi alleged the "corrupt" government of Chhattisgarh has broken the trust of people and insulted Chhattisgarh 'Mahtari' (mother Chhattisgarh) by indulging in scams.

"I assure you that after the formation of the BJP government in the state, such scams will be investigated and those who looted your money will be sent to jail," he added.

In a jibe at Baghel, the prime minister alleged "30 per cent commission in every work in the Congress government".

"Congress' priority is to fill its coffers by indulging in corruption...Chhattisgarh says '30 taka kakka, apka kaam pakka'", he added.

The PM said that for him the biggest caste in the country is the 'poor', and said he was their 'sevak' (servant) and accused political parties of hatching new conspiracies to divide the poor and spread the poison of casteism.

He said Congress has given nothing to the poor except deception and has been "emotionally exploiting" the poor people. "The Congress' entire game was in the interest of its family and dhanna seth. For Congress, poor is only vote (bank),” he added.

Announcing the extension of the free ration scheme, Modi said, "During COVID-19, the biggest concern of the poor was what they would feed their children... Then I decided that I would not let any poor sleep hungry, hence the BJP government started the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana".

Even today, lakhs of poor people have been getting free rice and gram under this scheme which is ending in December, but "your son (referring to himself) who has come out from among you has decided....The BJP government will extend the free ration scheme for 80 crore poor people for the next five years, the PM said.

Modi said the BJP worked in the direction of 'garib kalyan' (poor's welfare) with patience and honesty.

"For Modi, the poor are the biggest caste in the country and Modi is their 'sevak' (servant), brother and son. The BJP's policy has resulted in the decline of poverty. In five years, 13.50 crore people have come out of poverty," he added.

He said the people are feeling confident under the BJP government at the Centre and they are uniting to defeat poverty and they have become the 'maha sena' (army) of Modi.

"Political parties are not able to digest this thinking that their shops of lies will shut if the poor are empowered. They have started a new game to make poor fights among each other. Political parties are hatching new conspiracies to divide the poor and spreading the poison of casteism," Modi said.

The PM appealed to people to ensure that every conspiracy that breaks the unity of the poor is foiled and accused the Congress of hating the poor. "The Congress always wants the poor to beg in front of them, hence it wants the poor to remain poor," he added.

"When BJP comes to power in Chhattisgarh, the process of construction of houses for lakhs of poor families will be expedited,” Modi said.

Highlighting the Centre's works in the interest of OBCs, the PM said, “Congress abuses an OBC PM. They abuse saying how an OBC can become a prime minister. No matter how much they abuse Modi, the blessings of mothers of my country and the almighty will protect Modi, but they should stop abusing OBCs".

"If Modi belongs to OBC then what is the mistake of the entire community? Why do they call 'Sahus' (an influential OBC community in Chhattisgarh) thieves? One Congress leader (apparently referring to Rahul Gandhi) abuses OBC in the name of abusing Modi. The court punished him. The Supreme Court has not forgiven him, just extended the chance of going to jail,” he said.

Polling to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly will be held in two phases this month—20 seats in the first phase and 70 seats in the second phase.

Durg division has 20 seats, out of which, 8 will go to polls in the first phase on November 7 while 12 other segments will vote in the second phase on November 17. PTI