Congress funding Chhattisgarh poll campaign with betting operators' illicit money: BJP
The Hindu
BJP accuses Congress of using hawala money to fund Chhattisgarh poll campaign. Union Minister Smriti Irani says CM Bhupesh Baghel has played "satta (power) me rah kar satta (betting) ka khel" (game of betting while in power). ED probe reveals ₹64 crore protection money given to authorities by illegal betting operators. Voice messages & statements link betting money to Congress' campaign & kickbacks to Baghel. ED claims ₹508 crore paid to CM so far.
The BJP on Saturday accused the Congress of using hawala money brought by illegal betting operators to fund its poll campaign in Chhattisgarh as it targeted Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over the allegation that he received over ₹500 crore kickback.
Never before in our electoral history had people seen such evidence, Union Minister Smriti Irani told a press conference, accusing Mr. Baghel of fighting the polls not with the support of people but hawala and betting operators.
"Satta (power) me rah kar satta (betting) ka khel khela hai (he has played the game of betting while being in power)," she said, attacking Baghel.
The chief minister has in turn accused the BJP of using central investigation agencies to target him ahead of the assembly polls in the state on November 7 and 17.
Hitting back, Irani said the Enforcement Directorate's probe is based on the details of investigations by police in Chhattisgarh as well as Andhra Pradesh and asked if Mr. Baghel is putting his own government in the dock.
Citing the probe, she said more than ₹64 crore protection money was also given to authorities by illegal betting operators.
There are voice messages and statements of the accused linking the use of betting money for funding the Congress' campaign in the state and kickbacks given to Mr. Baghel, she claimed.