“I am urging all the villagers of India to not let the Brahmins enter your villages. I will talk to every other community so that we can boycott them. They need to send back to the bank of the Volga River,” said Nand Kumar Baghel, recently in Lucknow. The video immediately went viral on social media, sparking criticism, and protests from the community in various parts of Chattisgarh and poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
DD Nagar police, Raipur, lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the octogenarian following complaints lodged by the “Sarv Brahmin Samaj”. Senior Baghel is booked under Section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505 (1) (b) (intent to cause alarm) of the Indian Penal Code.
CM Bhupesh Baghel said that no one was above law, not even his father. He underscored that law is supreme and that there is one government for all.
“No one is above the law, even if that person is my 86-year-old father. The Chhattisgarh government respects every religion, sect, community and feeling. The comment against a particular community by my father, Nand Kumar Baghel, has disturbed communal peace. I am saddened by his statement,” said CM Baghel.
Bhupesh Baghel’s take on FIR against his father
He also added, “Our political views and beliefs are distinctly different. As a son, I respect him but as the Chief Minister I cannot excuse his mistake, which has the potential to disturb public order,”.
Seems like CM Baghel is going through a rough patch already. Only recently it was heard that TS Singh Deo was being considered as a replacement for Baghel, for Chattisgarh’s next CM. while Baghel has held onto the saddle, pretty firmly, replacing the OBC face from Chattisgarh could lead to issues for the Congress party, something they haven’t yet thought about.
