Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday alleged that Union home minister Amit Shah had reached out to discuss the cases against the former CM, claiming the move was aimed at persuading him to join the BJP.Responding to questions about his claims that he had received an offer to join the BJP, Baghel said the ruling party uses investigative agencies against opposition leaders and then seeks to politically benefit.
“BJP always puts allegations and files FIR against people from the Opposition. ED and IT are weapons of the BJP, and when someone gets trapped in this, the BJP calls them and says that they have a washing machine in which they can come out clean,” Baghel said. He went on to give references of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, late former Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar, and former Union minister Narayan Rane. He further claimed, “Amit Shah called me and asked about the cases against me. I said it was a pleasure, I’m in opposition and it is my duty to criticize the government, even after that you’re willing to help me. He did not directly say that I should join the BJP. Soon after that, there was a raid conducted on me. Then, I realised what he wanted to say.”Baghel asserted, “There is no question of joining the BJP.”Referring to allegations raised during elections over the Mahadev app betting case, he added, “During elections, Modi ji had levelled allegations regarding the Mahadev app. But bets are being placed even today. Who is taking the protection money – is it PM Modi or Vishnu Deo Sai?…”The BJP has previously denied Opposition allegations that central agencies are misused for political purposes.
