Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday accused the previous BJP government in the state of insulting families of Jheeram martyrs by offering job of peons to members of the bereaved family.
Baghel’s barb at BJP came amidst controversy over his government’s recent decision to appoint Ashish Karma, son of Jheeram martyr Mahendra Karma, as a deputy collector in Chhattisgarh government.
“Previous BJP government insulted martyrs by offering peon’s job to family members of the then Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh state assembly Mahendra Karma and the then PCC Chief Nandkumar Patel,” Chief Minister alleged in a statement.
Opposition BJP took a serious exception to the cabinet decision and charged the government of “obliging” party members through such appointments.
Bureaucrat-turned politician and BJP leader O.P. Chaudhary had also raised question over the appointment made by the Baghel government.
Refuting the allegations, Chief Minister said it was not true that only Karma’s son was given the appointment. Earlier, son of the martyred Inspector General of Police I G Maravi was also given appointment on compassionate ground.