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Tag: Bhupesh Baghel

  • Congress names Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel senior observer for UP assembly polls 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday named Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as a senior observer for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls next year.

    Baghel, who had played a crucial role in the run up to the Assam assembly polls with his team carrying out extensive booth training of party workers, has in the past discussed the preparations for the elections in UP with Congress general secretary in-charge Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi.

    “The Congress president has appointed Shri Bhupesh Bhagel, chief minister, Chhattisgarh, as AICC senior observer for the ensuing elections in Uttar Pradesh, with immediate effect,” the Congress said in a statement.

  • Amid leadership change buzz, more Chhattisgarh MLAs reaching Delhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Amid speculation over the possibility of a leadership change in Chhattisgarh, the number of Congress MLAs known to be close to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel who are camping in Delhi is rising with more legislators reaching the national capital.

    The development is being viewed by many as a show of strength but sources in the Baghel camp insisted that the MLAs were reaching Delhi on their own accord and there was no show of strength going on.

    The demand for a change of guard reared its head in Chhattisgarh after Baghel completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    The camp of cabinet minister T S Singhdeo has claimed that the high command in 2018 had agreed to hand over the post to him after the government completed half its term.

    Brihaspat Singh, who is known to be close to Baghel and has been camping in Delhi, reiterated on Friday there was no question of a change at the top in the state and the Baghel-led government would complete its full term.

    “We are here to meet AICC in-charge of Chhattisgarh PL Punia and waiting for him. We want to convey that Rahul Gandhi should extend the duration of his proposed tour to the state so that all MLAs can benefit from it,” said Singh, the party MLA from the Ramanujganj seat of the state.

    When contacted, Punia had said on Thursday that he was in Lucknow and had no information about the MLAs being in Delhi as none of them had contacted him.

    According to sources, around 20 MLAs have already reached Delhi while about 10 more are set to reach the capital late at night.

    Singh had said on Thursday that around 15 party MLAs are in Delhi to meet Punia.

    Asked about the MLAs’ visit to the capital, Baghel had told reporters in Raipur on Thursday, “Tell me one thing – can’t legislators go anywhere. Every step should not be seen as politics. Anybody can go anywhere. Even you (mediapersons) tour with your friends and it doesn’t mean every time the purpose is getting news.”

    Similarly, if anyone has gone to Delhi it should not be seen through a political prism, said the CM.

    Downplaying the development, Singhdeo had said, “All 70 MLAs can go. What is the issue if MLAs go to Delhi. All this went on in Uttar Pradesh also, what is new that is happening in Chhattisgarh.”

    He had said it is the view of all MLAs that everyone would abide by the decision of the high command.

    The Congress high command summoned both Baghel and Singhdeo to Delhi in August to resolve the feud.

    It appeared that Baghel had managed to avert for the time being a leadership change when he told reporters in Raipur recently that party leader Rahul Gandhi had agreed to visit the state “on his invitation”, and those talking about rotating the CM’s post were promoting political instability.

    However, there has been constant speculation over the matter.

  • Group of Chhattisgarh Congress MLAs camps in Delhi, one of them says no question of leadership change

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI/RAIPUR: Amid speculation over the possibility of a leadership change in Chhattisgarh, a group of Congress MLAs known to be close to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel are camping in Delhi but the CM and cabinet minister T S Singhdeo both downplayed the development on Thursday.

    However, one of the MLAs camping in Delhi, Brihaspat Singh, asserted that there was no question of a change at the top in the state and Baghel would complete his full term.

    Around 15 party MLAs are in Delhi and they want to meet AICC in-charge of Chhattisgarh P L Punia to convey that Rahul Gandhi should extend the duration of his proposed tour to the state so that all MLAs can get benefit of it, said Singh, the party MLA from the Ramanujganj seat of the state.

    When contacted, Punia said he was in Lucknow and had no information about the MLAs being in Delhi as none of them had contacted him.

    The AICC in-charge of the state said he had no plans to return to Delhi at least for a week.

    Singh, however, insisted that they are waiting for Punia and will speak with him when he returns.

    Asked about the MLAs’ visit, Baghel told reporters in Raipur, “Tell me one thing – can’t legislators go anywhere. Every step should not be seen as politics. Anybody can go anywhere. Even you (mediapersons) tour with your friends and it doesn’t mean every time the purpose is getting news.”

    Similarly, if anyone has gone to Delhi it should not be seen through political prism, said the CM.

    Downplaying the development, Singhdeo said in Raipur, “All 70 MLAs can go. What is the issue if MLAs go to Delhi. All this went on in Uttar Pradesh also, what is new that is happening in Chhattisgarh.”

    He said it is the view of all MLAs that everyone would abide by the decision of the high command.

    The demand for a change of guard reared its head in Chhattisgarh after Baghel completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    The Singhdeo camp claimed that the high command in 2018 had agreed to hand over the post to him after the government completed half its term.

    Punia has time and again denied that any such deal was struck in 2018 when the party came to power by dislodging the BJP.

    The Congress high command summoned both Baghel and Singhdeo to Delhi in August to resolve the feud.

    Asked whether the visit of the MLAs was aimed at expressing support to Baghel amid buzz of leadership change, Singh said their visit was aimed at conveying to the high command that Gandhi should extend the duration of his proposed tour, but added that there was no possibility of a leadership change.

    “The situation in Chhattisgarh is not like that of Punjab. Our party has 70 MLAs (in the 90-member state assembly), of whom 60 legislators had last time told everything to Punia ji and the high command,” Singh told PTI.

    “The high command gave a chief minister from the OBC community to the state with 54 per cent OBCs. The high command gives the example of Chhattisgarh government’s policies during elections in other states, so there is no such question (of leadership change),” Singh said.

    As far as the BJP people are concerned, if they think they can make the government fall by misleading “Maharaja of Sarguja” (a reference to T S Singhdeo) as they did in Madhya Pradesh by misleading “Gwalior Maharaja” (a reference to Jyotiraditya Scindia), they will not be successful, Singh said.

    “Our Maharaja of Sarguja is very intelligent, very knowledgeable and has himself stated that he will never leave the party. So there is no possibility and under the leadership of Bhupesh Baghel, together with T S Singhdeo, the government will continue to work for the development of the state,” the MLA said.

    Baghel is doing a great job and “we will work under his leadership for five years and will fight elections under his leadership in the future with the blessings of Rahul Gandhi”, he added.

    The buzz in political circles in Chhattisgarh over legislators having gone to express their support to Baghel comes in the wake of the Punjab political crisis for the party.

    Plunging the Congress into a fresh crisis months ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, Navjot Singh Sidhu quit as the party’s state unit chief on Tuesday, shortly after the allocation of portfolios among the members of the new state cabinet led by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

    It appeared that Baghel had managed to avert for the time being a leadership change when he told reporters in Raipur recently that party leader Rahul Gandhi had agreed to visit the state “on his invitation”, and those talking about rotating the CM’s post were promoting political instability.

    However, there has been constant speculation over the matter.

    Meanwhile, speaking at the PHD Chamber Annual Session, Baghel listed the achievements of his government and asserted that because of the emphasis on strengthening the rural economy of the state, Chhattisgarh had made economic progress despite the problems posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

    The Chhattisgarh CM also said agriculture was the most crucial sector in India and if the country’s economy was recovering from the Covid jitters it was because of this sector.

  • No political angle to Congress MLAs’ visit to Delhi, says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday sought to play down the visit of a group of Congress MLAs to Delhi, saying the trip should not be seen through political prism as talks about a possible change in leadership in the state refuse to fizzle out.

    Baghel also termed as unfortunate, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal’s remarks raising questions over the party’s functioning.

    Over a dozen ruling party MLAs, considered close to Baghel, flew to the national capital on Wednesday, adding to the speculation over a possible leadership change as a part of purported power-sharing formula in the Congress government.

    However, the MLAs who have reached Delhi had said their visit was linked to the proposed tour of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi to the state, where the party came to power in 2018 after 15 years in opposition.

    Asked about their visit, Baghel told reporters here, “Tell me one thing – can’t legislators go anywhere. Every step should not be seen as politics. Anybody can go anywhere. Even you (media persons) tour with your friends and it doesn’t mean every time the purpose is getting news.”

    Similarly, if anyone has gone (to Delhi) it should not be seen through political prism, said the Congress CM.

    Asked about the possibility of the MLAs meeting AICC in-charge for Chhattisgarh P L Punia, the chief minister said, “They are politicians and will meet politicians? Is Punia ji in Delhi? If Punia ji is not in Delhi so there is no question of meeting him.”

    Baghel said Sibal’s comments on the party leadership were unfortunate.

    “Kapil Sibal ji is our senior leader, a former Union minister, a senior lawyer and such a statement by him is unfortunate. After Rahul ji resigned as AICC president (in July 2019), everyone (in the party) had accepted Sonia Gandhi ji as the interim president and she is still in the post.

    “Due to the coronavirus pandemic, election (to the post of Congress president) was cancelled. After all this, it is ridiculous to raise such questions,” he said.

    Addressing a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday, Sibal had raised questions on the party’s high command in the wake of the events unfolding in Punjab, saying Congress workers did not know who was taking decisions in the absence of a full-time president.

    Meanwhile, state Health Minister TS Singh Deo, who has been apparently seeking a change in guard, also played down the visit of MLAs to Delhi and said it should not be made an issue.

    “We all 70 MLAs can go…What is the issue if the MLAs have gone to Delhi. In Uttar Pradesh, some MLAs (of ruling BJP) had gone to Delhi in connection with the Yogi Adityanath government.

    “For many days, discussions were held following which their (BJP) high command took a decision and new ministers were inducted and a new system was created (there),” Singh Deo told reporters on Thursday when asked about the development.

    “The episode ran for several days in UP. We all heard about it. Then what new thing is happening in Chhattisgarh? I cannot understand,” he added.

    The state health minister said, “I have learnt the MLAs are (after Delhi) going to Shimla as tourists. No assembly session is underway in the state and they might have finished tour to their respective  constituencies so they must be out for some leisure.”

    Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh, who is among the legislators who are in in Delhi, had said on Wednesday that 15 to 16 party MLAs have reached the national capital to meet Punia regarding the proposed tour of Rahul Gandhi in the state.

    The schedule of Gandhi’s visit to Chhattisgarh is yet to be finalised, according to party sources here.

    Singh, considered close to Baghel, courted controversy in July when he alleged there was a threat to his life from Singh Deo.

    However, the MLA, who hails from Singh Deo’s home turf Surguja, later withdrew the claim.

    The buzz about a possible change of guard surfaced after Baghel completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    The Singh Deo camp claimed the high command in 2018 had agreed to hand over the CM’s post to him after the government completed half its term.

    The Congress high command summoned both Baghel and Singh Deo to Delhi in August in a bid to resolve the feud.

    It appeared that Baghel had won this round when he told reporters upon return that Gandhi had agreed to visit the state ‘on his invitation’, and those talking about rotating the CM’s post were promoting political instability.

    As many as 54 out of 70 Congress MLAs had visited Delhi separately when Baghel was in the national capital in an apparent show of strength by legislators supporting him.

    While both Baghel and Singh Deo have refrained from saying anything about the leadership issue since then, the speculation has not died down.

  • BJP seeks apology from Bhupesh Baghel over his tweet asking media not to ‘forget limits’

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh’s main opposition BJP on Wednesday demanded an apology from Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over his tweet, in which he asked the media not to forget its limits.

    On Monday, Baghel had written a tweet in Hindi that read, “Listen carefully. Rahul Gandhi ji is currently the main leader of the opposition. Congress workers will not accept the use of indecent language against him. I respect the media, which is performing the responsibility of the fourth pillar of democracy. But don’t forget the limits.” The CM apparently reacted to the use of a cuss word by a new channel anchor during a talk show, which appeared to be aimed at Rahul Gandhi.

    The woman anchor had later apologised for it.

    Reacting strongly to the CM’s tweet, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Raman Singh tweeted, “CM @bhupeshbaghel ji such indecent language does not suit you. A person holding a constitutional post is openly threatening the fourth pillar of democracy. Your language has maligned the image of Chhattisgarh. At least take care of the dignity of the state.”

    Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik said that the chief minister should tender an unconditional apology to the state and the media for allegedly threatening the fourth pillar of democracy.

    The BJP does not support the use of abusive language towards anyone (apparently referring to news anchor’s word), but even such threatening language (by the CM) will not be tolerated, Kaushik added.

    “The language of the CM’s tweet is not only an intimidation to the media, but also to people of the state. He has openly warned the media to stay in their limits,” he said and sought an apology from Baghel.

  • Chhattisgarh next after Punjab? Over dozen Congress MLAs reach Delhi, visit sparks leadership change speculation

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: As the suspense over the possibility of change in leadership in Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh continues, the political heat appears to be once again escalating in the state after over a dozen Congress MLAs reached Delhi on Wednesday.

    The political circle in the state was abuzz with speculation that the legislators have gone to express their support to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

    However, the MLAs who have reached the national capital said their visit was linked with the proposed tour of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to the state.

    “Around 15-16 party MLAs have reached Delhi and are staying at different places. Rahul ji’s visit to Chhattisgarh is proposed. We wanted to convey a request to Rahul ji through our state in-charge P L Punia ji that he should extend a little the duration of his tour so that all the MLAs could get benefit of it,” said Brihaspat Singh, the party MLA from Ramanujganj seat of state.

    “We have come to Delhi just to make this request and we will speak to Punia sir on Thursday in this regard. Our visit should not be seen in other way,” he told PTI over phone from Delhi.

    ALSO READ | Endgame for Congress? With ‘Get Well Soon’ placards, party workers protest outside Kapil Sibal’s house

    When asked whether their visit was aimed at expressing support to Baghel, Singh said, “Our party has 70 MLAs (in the 90-member state assembly), of whom 60 legislators had last time told everything to Punia ji. When there is blessing of the high command, support of the MLAs and the chief minister is working well, then no such issue (of leadership change) exists.”

    He also denied the alleged tussle between Baghel and state health minister T S Singh Deo and said that both the leaders had recently shared the stage and exchanged sweets.

    He also said that they respect each other.

    “The situation in Chhattisgarh is not similar to Punjab. The high command of any party would not put the entire government at stake just to make one leader happy,” he said without naming anyone.

    ALSO READ | Punjab Congress crisis: CM Charanjit Singh Channi asks ‘head of family’ Sidhu to resolve issues

    Singh, considered as close to Baghel, was embroiled in a controversy in July this year when he alleged that there was a threat to his life from Singh Deo.

    However, the MLA, who hails from Singh Deo’s home turf Sarguja, later withdrew the claim.

    The demand for a change of guard reared its head after Baghel completed two and a half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    Singh Deo camp claimed that the high command in 2018 had agreed to hand over the post to him after the government completed half its term.

    ALSO READ | Now, Ghulam Nabi Azad writes to Sonia Gandhi seeking CWC meeting to discuss Cong affairs

    Congress in-charge of the state P L Punia has time and again denied that any such deal was struck in 2018 when the party came to power by dislodging the BJP.

    The Congress high command summoned both Baghel and Singh Deo to Delhi in August to resolve the feud.

    It appeared that Baghel had won this round when he told reporters upon return that party leader Rahul Gandhi had agreed to visit the state ‘on his invitation’, and those talking about rotating the CM’s post were promoting political instability.

    As many as 54 out of 70 Congress MLAs had visited Delhi separately when Baghel was in the national capital, in an apparent show of strength on his side.

    While both Baghel and Singh Deo have desisted from saying anything about the leadership issue since then, the feud has not abated.

  • Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel skips Amit Shah’s meet on Left Wing Extremism 

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday skipped a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

    The chief ministers of 10 Naxal-hit states, including Chhattisgarh, were invited to the meeting during which Shah was to take stock of the ongoing operations against the ultras and development activities undertaken at the ground level, officials said.

    “Chhattisgarh’s Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain and Director General of Police D M Awasthi have gone to the national capital on the CM’s behalf to attend the meeting,” a public relations department official said.

    Baghel was scheduled to attend a convention of Chandranahu Kurmi Samaj in the state’s Mahasamund district on Sunday afternoon, he said.

    The CM has skipped the crucial meeting at a time when the LWE situation in Chhattisgarh could be a key agenda of discussion as the state has witnessed several deadly attacks on security forces by Naxals in the last few years.

    Senior state officials said the issue of setting up camps of security forces in Bastar, particularly in its southern part that comprises Sukma, Bijapur and Dantewada, was likely to be discussed in Shah’s meeting in Delhi on Sunday.

    Construction of roads and other development works in the strife-torn areas of the state were also likely to be discussed, they said.

    Chhattisgarh recorded the highest number of crimes committed by Maoists in 2020, according to the National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) annual report released recently.

    As per data of the Chhattisgarh police, the Naxal violence has claimed lives of 1,237 security personnel, mostly belonging to paramilitary forces, and 1,615 civilians from 2001 to June this year in the state.

    During the same period, bodies of 1,027 Naxals were also recovered following encounters with security forces, while 4,552 ultras surrendered.

    The state’s eight districts -, Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma (all in Bastar region) and Rajnandgaon – are among most Naxal-hit districts in the country, and have been battling the menace for over three decades.

    After assuming charge as the Union home minister, Shah had for the first time visited the insurgency-hit Bastar division in April this year, after 22 security personnel were killed and 31 others injured in a Maoist ambush along the border of the region’s Sukma and Bijapur districts.

    Shah had then held a high-level meeting in Jagdalpur on the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) situation with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior officials of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

    In January this year, Baghel had chaired a meeting of unified command here to review the security situation and development works in Naxal-affected areas of the state.

    The CM had then said his government’s three-pronged strategy of trust, development and security helped in pushing Naxals on the back foot, and success will be achieved in cornering ultras in the coming days.

  • BJP rakes up religious conversion in Chhattisgarh, will launch statewide ‘Halla Bol’ 

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR: The opposition BJP kick-off ‘Halla Bol’ against the Chhattisgarh government over the alleged rising incidents of ‘religious conversion’ from Saturday.

    With about two years remaining for the Assembly polls, the issue of religious conversion snowballed into a major controversy following the Sukma SP’s assertion in July this year that the Christian missionaries were involved in encouraging the practice.

    The BJP claimed that considerable religious conversions are being carried out under the shelter of the state government.

    The BJP MPs, MLAs, senior leaders, and cadres organised a ‘peace foot march’ against the alleged religious conversion from Azad Chowk to Rajbhawan where they submitted a memorandum to Governor Anusuiya Uike.

    ALSO READ | Anti-Brahmin remarks case: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s father granted bail

    “We have expressed our genuine concern with the Governor over the increasing incidents of religious conversion, and those involved in it are getting the state shelter in Chhattisgarh”, said Raman Singh, the former chief minister and BJP national vice-president.

    The BJP state president Vishnu Deo Sai said that earlier only the tribals were lured into religious conversion but now every segment of the population is being targeted right from the capital Raipur to the remote tribal belts. “So we have urged the intervention of the Governor to ensure a strict ban over the incidents of religious conversion”, said Brijmohan Agrawal, senior BJP legislator.

    The opposition has further planned to organise demonstrations outside the police station in every district with the demand to “put a check on the religious conversion” from Sunday. On September 13-14 the BJP leaders and cadres will continue their protest at the block level.

    The ruling Congress party however called the BJP’s allegation as a desperate attempt to regain the lost ground.

    “My government will take prompt action against anyone found involved in forced religious conversion. Not just the highest number of religious conversions but more churches were built when the BJP was in power in Chhattisgarh”, averred the chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in response to the BJP’s protest.

    “The opposition now lacks issues against the state government and is trying to exploit the sentiments of the people as a last-ditch effort to revive their political fortune”, claimed Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, chairman, Congress media cell.

  • Anti-Brahmin remarks case: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s father granted bail

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s 86-year-old father Nand Kumar Baghel was granted bail by the Raipur court on Friday.

    He was sent to jail on judicial remand till September 21 over his alleged derogatory remarks against the Brahmin community citing them as “foreigners” at a public event and urged the people to boycott them.

    Nand Kumar Baghel’s lawyer had submitted an application for bail at a local court in Raipur.

    On the written complaint by the Sarv Brahmin Samaj, the Raipur police had lodged an FIR against Chhattisgarh CM’s father, under the Sections 153-A (offence for promoting disharmony, enmity, or hatred between different groups) and 505-1(B) (statement causing fear or alarm or provokes feelings of enmity or hatred among a group) of the IPC. He was arrested and produced before the court on September 7.

    Before his father’s arrest, the CM had expressed anguish after learning about the alleged remarks made against the community. Baghel said that the law is equal for all and the police should initiate appropriate legal action. “No one is above the law. As a son, I respect my father but for us the law is supreme”, the CM affirmed.

  • Chhattisgarh CM’s father arrested for ‘derogatory’ remarks against Brahmin community

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: The Raipur Police have arrested Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s father Nand Kumar Baghel from Delhi in a case registered against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks against a community, an official said here on Tuesday.

    The CM had strongly disapproved of the remarks allegedly made by his 86-year-old father and said nobody is above law.

    “Nand Kumar Baghel was arrested and brought from Delhi to Raipur on Tuesday,” Raipur Additional Superintendent of Police Tarkeshwar Patel said.

    He was produced in a local court, he said, without divulging more details.

    The case against Nand Kumar Baghel was lodged on Saturday night at the DD Nagar police station in Raipur on a complaint filed by the ‘Sarv Brahmin Samaj’ against him.

    He was charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) and 505(1)(b) (with intent to cause, or likely to cause, fear or alarm to public, or to any section of public whereby any person may be induced to commit offence against the state or against public tranquility), police had said.

    Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s father Nand Kumar Baghel who has been arrested over his alleged derogatory remarks against Brahmins is being produced before a court in Raipur. pic.twitter.com/i2GAJaF066
    — ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2021
    The outfit, in its complaint, alleged that the CM’s father recently made a controversial appeal to people to boycott Brahmins by terming them as “foreigners”, and asked people to not let them enter in their villages.

    The organization also accused Nand Kumar Baghel of asking people to “evict” Brahmins from the country.

    The organisation had said a video of the purported comments of the CM’s father was available on social media platforms.

    According to the police, Nand Kumar Baghel reportedly made the remarks while addressing an event in Uttar Pradesh recently.

    After a controversy erupted over the alleged remarks of his father, the chief minister had said he was pained and asserted nobody was above law in his government and police will take appropriate action in the matter.

    “The remarks made by my father Nand Kumar Baghel against a specific class have come to my attention. The comments have hurt the sentiments of the class as well as (affected) social harmony and I am also pained by it,” Bhupesh Baghel had said in a statement.

    “Nobody is above law under my government even if he is the chief minister’s 86-year-old father,” the Congress CM had said, adding an appropriate legal action will follow.

    He said the Chhattisgarh government respects every religion, caste and community and their sentiments, and gives equal importance to everyone, the statement added.