The arrest of Congress MLA and former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to a purported multi-crore liquor scam has heightened the political climate in Chhattisgarh. This arrest has led to heated exchanges between the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP, with both sides accusing each other of corruption and conspiracy.
In Sukma, the district Congress called for a one-day bandh to protest Lakhma’s arrest, resulting in the partial closure of commercial establishments. Congress workers held demonstrations and raised slogans, alleging that the arrest was politically motivated.
Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap of the BJP alleged that former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel masterminded the scam and used Lakhma as a pawn to carry out illicit activities. Kashyap claimed that Baghel turned Chhattisgarh into a financial source for central Congress leadership, accusing him of siphoning public funds for personal and political gain. He further alleged that funds from the scam were funneled to senior Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
Bhupesh Baghel responded to the charges by denouncing the arrest and characterizing it as a politically motivated move by the central government to damage the Congress’s reputation. In expressing support for Lakhma, Baghel asserted that the ED’s actions were a component of a wider plot against Congress members and tribal leaders.
Kawasi Lakhma, meanwhile, claimed he was being set up and refuted all of the accusations. In an interview with the media, Lakhma claimed that no money or evidence had been taken from his home and that he had unintentionally signed documents at the direction of authorities. The tribal leader expressed his commitment to transparency and clarified that he had no involvement in the allegations, considering them to be unfounded.
The BJP’s state-in-charge, Nitin Nabin, countered these claims by accusing Baghel of exploiting tribal leaders for his benefit. He asserted that the investigation would eventually expose the real perpetrators behind the scam.
As political parties engage in a war of words, the controversy surrounding Lakhma’s arrest has deepened the divide between the BJP and Congress, with both sides attempting to sway public opinion in their favor. These developments suggest that a more vibrant political dialogue is anticipated in Chhattisgarh in the upcoming days.
