Beat officials with shoes if they cheat farmers: Congress MLA

RAIPUR: After Chhattisgarh excise minister Kawasi Lakhma’s advice to kids that one has to “grab collars of collectors and SPs” to become a big leader, another Congress legislator has encouraged beating officials with shoes for cheating farmers.
Brihaspat Singh, a two-time MLA who represents Balrampur assembly segment in north Chhattisgarh, made the statement at a function where he shared the dais with cabinet minister Amarjeet Singh Bhagat.
A video of Singh’s speech has him saying: “There has to be an inquiry against officials who cheated farmers. If required, such officials must be beaten up with shoes. Cheating of farmers cannot be tolerated.”
He said that there have been instances of farmers not taking loans but bank officials have “fraudulently obtained their signatures on loan-related papers and swindled money”. Now, such farmers are getting notices from banks.
Singh told TOI that officials of Gramin Bank have cheated farmers of Balrampur region. “How can it be tolerated? This is a serious matter. I have brought it to the notice of chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Balrampur district collector,” he said.
A few days ago, Chhattisgarh industries and excise minister Kawasi Lakhma gave a bizarre advice for school kids on how to become a big politician — grab the collars of collectors and SPs. The next day, he said that his statement was twisted and what he meant was that one has to be at the forefront of peoples’ struggle and fight with authorities for peoples’ rights to become a good leader.