On India News forum, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel stated that it had never happened in the history of the nation for the same worker and leader to be prohibited from going to the office of any political party. “This was in response to the Congress’s protest over the Enforcement Directorate’s questioning of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi. Congress Office on Akbar Road was changed into a cantonment, for a week not just a day. What are you frightened about, I enquire. If there is money laundering, it is the responsibility of ED to begin its investigation there. The National Herald has received the entire sum. Jawaharlal Nehru, Tandon ji, Vallabhbhai Sardar Patel and Kidwai ji founded the National Herald in 1937. All Congressmen had a responsibility to preserve the National Herald since it was important to the independence struggle. The journalists and staff of the National Herald had received all of the funds. 90 crores were distributed over ten years in instalments. Everyone was audited, and all the money was in order. The ED had terminated the file in 2015 after declaring that there was no evidence to support the charge.”
CM added, “Sonia Gandhi is not a super human. But consider her history. The woman who twice resigned from her position as prime minister would perform an act for 90 crores ? A loan was provided by the Congress party to save an institution. Behind which is ED. Investors in Chhattisgarh invested 6.5 billion rupees in chit fund businesses. These businesses were launched by many luminaries, including Raman Singh, his son Abhishek Singh, and Meena Singh, who later served as their brand ambassadors. Chit fund businesses stole money and fled. We have been attempting to arrest the directors of all chit fund businesses for the past three and a half years. Their assets have been joined. wherein a total of 40 crores were recouped. Interrogate Raman Singh and his son and ask them where the $6.5 billion went if you have the guts to do so.”
He added, “We do not disparage ED or IT. We appreciate these institutions since they were created under our authority. However, the officers must also be conscious of their obligations. We won’t object if you raid, but don’t raid arbitrarily. In the eight years that the Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power, not a single state has seen any action against any of their leaders. For the shame alone, I would have done a 2-4.”
