Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed the Congress government in Chhattisgarh over its failure to contain the rise of Naxalism in the state, saying that whenever the party comes to power at the Centre, Naxalites and terrorists get emboldened.
During an address in the Surajpur district of Chhattisgarh, Modi also attacked Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over his alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app scam with the slogan, “30 take kakka, khule aam satta.”
Baghel is popularly known as “kaka” (uncle) in the state.
On Tuesday, Chattisgarh went to the first phase of polls in 20 out of the total 90 assembly seats.
Modi said for the Congress, adivasis (tribals) have no existence in the country and it left them to their fate.
#WATCH | Chhattisgarh: At a public meeting in Bishrampur, Surajpur, PM Modi says “Congress has given nothing but betrayal to all of you. Congress did not even fulfil the dreams of the youth of Chhattisgarh. They even did a scam in the name of ‘Mahadev’. ‘Mahadev’ betting scam is… pic.twitter.com/DS9FeMASWi
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2023
“Whenever the Congress comes to power in the country, terrorists and Naxalites get emboldened. News of bomb blasts and murders are reported from here and there. Wherever the Congress is in power, the rule of crime and loot prevails there,” he said.
“In the recent period, our (BJP) party workers were snatched from us. A few days ago, our colleague (party leader) was shot dead…do you want to live under the shadow of bombs and guns? No matter how much money you have, if your son doesn’t return home in the evening and his body reaches, then what is the need of that money,” he added.
Chattisgarh polls
Polling was being held under a thick security blanket of police and paramilitary personnel, who kept a tight vigil in the seats in the Naxalite-hit Bastar division.
A CRPF commando was injured on Tuesday in an IED blast triggered by Naxalites in Sukma district while his unit was undertaking an area domination operation to ensure security during the polls.
Women voters outnumber men in 16 out of the 20 assemblies where polling is being held in the first phase on Tuesday in Chhattisgarh, as per officials.
The total number of voters in the 20 constituencies is 40,78,681, comprising 19,93,937 men, 20,84,675 women and 69 third-gender persons, they said.
With inputs from PTI