The chief minister’s father has been sent to judicial custody. “He (Nandkumar Baghel) has been sent to judicial custody. He will be presented before the court again on September 21. As per his instructions, I did not file any application for his bail today (Tuesday),” Nand Kumar’s lawyer Gajendra Sonkar said in Raipur.
The police had on Sunday booked Nandkumar Baghel over his “derogatory” remarks, which had gone viral on social media.
Earlier, Bhupesh Baghel had said that the police would ensure appropriate legal action against his father in the matter. He also said that he and his father did not share the same ideology.
“It has come to my notice that my father Nandkumar Baghel made certain remarks against a section of the society. I am sad that these remarks have hurt the sentiments of this community besides causing damage to social harmony. My ideological differences with my father are well known to everyone,” chief minister Baghel said in a statement on Sunday morning.
एक पुत्र के रूप में मैं अपने पिता जी का सम्मान करता हूँ लेकिन एक मुख्यमंत्री के रूप में उनकी किसी भी ऐसी गलती को अन… https://t.co/TjbK8SRN1n
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) 1630830035000
“For the government, nobody is above the law, even if it is my 86-year-old father. Chhattisgarh government respects and honours the feelings of all castes, all religions, and all communities”, the chief minister said, adding that he also came to know that it was being being claimed on social media that action was not being taken against his father owing to the fact that his son was a chief minister. “Our government gives importance to all and is committed to protecting everyone’s constitutional rights,” the CM added.
“My political thoughts and beliefs are different from that of my father. As a son I respect him but as a chief minister I cannot forgive his remarks or mistakes that could disturb social harmony,” CM Baghel said.
Nandkumar Baghel, known for voicing his views on pro-OBC politics publicly as well as on social media platforms has always been extremely vocal against a particular community.
Nandkumar Baghel’s latest remarks against the community in Lucknow and other places went viral on the social media, sparking criticism at a time when the Congress government in Chhattisgarh is facing the rough weather over speculation over a leadership change.
Nandkumar Baghel’s remarks sparked protests from the community in many states, including poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, where the community leaders urged chief minister Yogi Adityanath to act against him.