Goa CM asks his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel, Congress to clarify stand on Sanatana Dharma row

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is on a two-day visit to the poll-bound Chhattisgarh

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on September 16 hit out at the opposition bloc INDIA over the remarks made against Sanatana Dharma by some of its leaders, and sought to know whether the Congress and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel support the statements made by them.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said that although the opposition front has changed its name from UPA to 'INDI' alliance, its intention and policy cannot change and corruption cannot end.

Mr. Sawant was addressing a press conference here at Ekatma Parisar, the BJP's Raipur city office. He is on a two-day visit to the poll-bound Chhattisgarh from Saturday, during which he will take part in ongoing 'Parivartan Yatra' of the party.

Accusing the Baghel government of indulging in corruption, the Goa CM said, "Earlier, Chhattisgarh was an ATM of the Congress. Now, the party has got Karnataka as its second ATM." "UPA has changed its name to INDI alliance. But just by changing name, the intention, policy and corruption cannot change. Its alliance partner recently attacked Sanatan Dharma and said it should be destroyed. Congress in Chhattisgarh and CM Bhupesh Baghel should clarify if they support the statement of their alliance partner, which talked about destroying Sanatan Dharma," he said.

DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin recently kicked up a row by comparing Sanatan Dharma with diseases like malaria and dengue, and calling for its "eradication". Stalin's party DMK is a key constituent of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), a grouping of more than two dozen anti-BJP outfits.

Mr. Sawant alleged that the Bhupesh Baghel government has failed to fulfil even 10 per cent of its promises made to the people and it should submit a report card of five years of its rule.

"Instead of fulfilling the promise of liquor ban, the Congress government started the home delivery of liquor," he said.