Guwahati News Desk: For allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Brahmin community, Raipur court on Tuesday sent Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s father, Nand Kumar Baghel, in a 15-day judicial custody.
The announcement of the arrest was made by Nand Kumar’s lawyer Gajendra Sonkar on Tuesday itself, where he said, “He (Nand Kumar Baghel) has been sent in judicial custody. He will be presented before the court again on September 21. As per his instructions, I didn’t file an application for his bail today.”
Even earlier, an FIR was registered against the 86-year-old father of CM Baghel for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups in the society. Back then, a group called Sarv Brahmin Samaj had complained that senior Baghel had made derogatory statements against Brahmins in Uttar Pradesh.
However, the recent complaint against senior Baghel stated that he had recently described Brahmins as foreigners, and appealed for their boycott, further asking people not to let them enter villages.
On the other hand, CM Baghel in a statement asserted that his own views were very different from his father’s and said, “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 their feelings. The comment against a particular community by my father, Nand Kumar Baghel, has disturbed the communal peace. I am also saddened by his statement.”
He 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 the public order.”
However, the CM’s father was charged under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 505(1)(b) (intent to cause fear or alarm).
