Bhupesh Baghel: ‘Modiji’s self-belief is shaken… clear that he has nothing worthwhile to say… only abuses Cong, Gandhi-Nehru family’

Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is contesting the Lok Sabha election from the Rajnandgaon constituency, which has been a bastion of the ruling BJP. On the eve of the polling in Rajnandgaon in the second phase Friday, In an interview with The Indian Express, Baghel speaks on various issues related to the polls including the Congress’s prospects and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign. Excerpts:

There are more rural voters in the constituency as compared to urban voters. Rural voters are firmly behind the Congress.

I slammed the BJP over the electoral bonds issue as people are unable to digest the fact that they took hundreds of crores through the scheme from beef producers and gambling companies. The BJP, which talks of Hindutva, bought their flags and banners using such money. They have also extorted businessmen.

I also spoke of the good works like cow dung procurement and vermicompost production that was initiated by the Congress and has now been stopped by the BJP. Lakhs of families, which depended on the schemes, have been affected by this.

We will win at least six or seven (of the 11 seats in the state).

Modiji’s self-belief is shaken and hence he is speaking rubbish about the manifesto. It is clear from his speeches that he has nothing worthwhile to say. He has nothing to offer to the country and only abuses the Congress and the Gandhi-Nehru family.

I said complaints of fake encounters were received after the BJP government took over. The Kanker encounter took place after I made this statement. But he took my statement and linked it to the encounter. It was an act of bravery by our forces and I am happy that we did not suffer any casualties. He must not make such statements