Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday asked the BJP to apologize to farmers and people over its leader D. Purandeswari's comment that the state cabinet will be swept away if only BJP activists "turn and spit only once".
The comment reflects the hatred in the minds of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Baghel told the media here in the presence of several Cabinet ministers.
He said the just ended BJP’s three-day 'Chintan Shivir' voiced no concern for the tribal people or on eradicating the Naxalite problem. The key issue discussed was religious conversion and how to mobilise the Other Backward Class.
The pro-poor and pro-farmer decisions of the Chhattisgarh government had diverted the minds of BJP leaders. It is one reason for utterances which show disrespect to people and farmers of the state, he added.
The BJP leaders should apologize for the statement, Baghel said.
Forest Minister Mohammed Akbar said that if the District Collector takes cognizance of the statement, the BJP leader can be booked under the Epidemic Act. Spitting in public is banned in these Covid times.
Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey said people will give a befitting reply to the BJP in the next elections.
Purandeswari, the Chhattisgarh BJP in-charge, made the controversial statement on Thursday at Jagdalpur.