“Motive of taking revenge”: Bhupesh Baghel slams Chhattisgarh Govt over arrest of Congress MLA Devendra Yadav

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], August 18 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Police have arrested Congress MLA Devendra Yadav in connection with the violence in Balodabazar on June 10. The arrest has sparked a political row, with former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel calling it “vendetta politics” and demanding a CBI inquiry.

Yadav was arrested from his house in Bhilai on Saturday, with 20 sections imposed against him. Baghel claimed that the arrest was made without proof and was a failure of the state government.

“20 sections have been imposed against Devendra Yadav. It is an incident of June 10 and after 67 days he has been arrested. They have no proof. The arrest has been made with the motive of taking revenge. CBI inquiry should be done. The police & government did not take any action. This is a failure of Vishnu Deo Sai’s government…,” said former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.

Yadav was arrested in connection with the violent clashes and arson at the Baloda Bazar collectorate on June 10. He is accused of inciting the Scheduled Caste Satnami community, during which large-scale violence erupted.

Meanwhile, another Congress leader TS Singhdeo said that Yadav did not give a speech and was not present on the stage because he is not from the community.

“I got to know about this. As per my knowledge, people of the Satnami community called a public meeting which was attended by a lot of people. MLAs were also invited there, in which Devendra Yadav also came to the meeting. As the event was of the Satnami community, he did not give a speech and was not present on the stage because he is not from the community…Almost 160-200 people have been arrested in this case…The BJP president himself went there with the people of the community to get permission for the meeting. But no action has been taken on him…,” said Congress leader TS Singhdeo.

However, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Arun Sao justified the arrest, stating that Yadav had failed to cooperate with the law despite repeated notices. Sao said that the police action was based on evidence and facts.

“After the Baloda Bazar incident, the police sent repeated notices to Devendra. He did not want to cooperate with the law and did not trust the law. After yesterday, it was evident that he believes he is above the law. Whatever action the police has taken is based on evidence and facts,” said Sao.

Yadav, a two-time Congress MLA who contested the Lok Sabha polls from Bilaspur earlier this year, had been summoned thrice for interrogation but failed to appear.