Cong calls for 1-day shutdown to protest against Lakhma’s arrest

Raipur: The Sukma district Congress has called for a day-long shut in protest of the arrest while word of war has intensified between BJP and Congress leaders over the issue, a day after Congress MLA and former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED). After his arrest, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap said that Lakhma was merely a pawn used in former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel's larger conspiracy and the tribal leader has fallen victim to his schemes. Kedar alleged that Baghel had used Lakhma as a tool to execute his illicit plans as the entire alleged liquor scam took place under Baghel's protection, with him looting public money and turning Chhattisgarh into an "ATM" for the Gandhi family.Kashyap claimed that the money from the scam even reached Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. He said that Lakhma was intentionally made the Excise minister so that he could carry out the scam, adding that it was clear that Baghel was the mastermind, and Lakhma is now paying the price. Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel took to social media to express that the entire Congress party stands with Kawasi Lakhma and labelled the arrest as an act driven by vengeance, claiming that the ED, under the influence of leaders in the central govt, is attempting to defame Congress leaders.While Kawasi refuted the allegations of corruption and his involvement in the scam, he told the media soon after his arrest that he was being fabricated falsely. He clarified that no documents or cash had been seized from his residence, stating that he is an illiterate and had signed the documents as and when the officers asked him. BJP's state-in-charge, Nitin Nabin, accused Bhupesh Baghel of using a tribal leader as a pawn in his crimes, pointing out that the real mastermind remains hidden. Nabin stressed that the law would eventually catch up with those responsible for the scam.In Sukma, the district Congress called for a one-day shutdown to protest Lakhma's arrest, with commercial establishments in the district headquarters partially remaining closed. Congress workers also staged protests and raised slogans against the arrest.