We expect ED-IT raids in Chhattisgarh as Jharkhand MLAs are staying here: Baghel

Claims his govt is playing 'small role to save democracy'

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, on Friday, said he was expecting the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) department to conduct raids soon in Chhattisgarh as ruling alliance MLAs from Jharkhand have been staying in the state.

Answering a question by reporters on Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM)—the BJP's youth wing— protest at Mayfair Resort in Raipur where ruling alliance (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress) MLAs are staying, the CM said he knew that if the MLAs stayed in the state, ED-IT raids will be conducted in Chhattisgarh.

“BJP does not have faith in democracy. Jharkhand MLAs have come to Chhattisgarh and we have welcomed them. BJP people are protesting and holding demonstrations. And my well wishers have told me that very soon ED-IT raids will be there because we have kept the Jharkhand MLAs here and played a small role to save democracy,” Baghel said.

“They (the MLAs of ruling alliance) could have gone anywhere but they have come to Chhattisgarh. I knew that if they stayed here, ED-IT raids would be conducted in Chhattisgarh, yet, this is very important for democracy. I have told you on earlier occasions that ED-IT raids will be there and they were conducted. This time also, I am telling you that my well-wishers have told me that ED-IT raids will be there,” Baghel said in reply to the media query and shared his statement on his Twitter handle later.

Earlier in the day, BJYM activists, led by state unit president Amit Sahu, staged a demonstration outside Mayfair Resort and tried to enter its premises. They also got into a scuffle with the police personnel who tried to stop them. The BJYM was protesting on the point that the ruling alliance MLAs were enjoying themselves in Raipur resort even after a girl in Dumka was murdered by her stalker. Sahu said the BJYM wants to shoo away the MLAs to their home state.

The stay of Jharkhand MLAs in Chhattisgarh, even as political upheaval over reports of likely disqualification of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in office of profit row continues, has led to face-off between ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Chhattisgarh. The BJP has accused the Congress government of spending money from the state exchequer to entertain Jharkhand MLAs. On Thursday, however, a section of Jharkhand MLAs told the local media that they were spending money from their own accounts to stay in the Raipur resort.

Baghel has earlier said the MLAs were being kept in Raipur resort to shield them from poaching bids of the BJP.