Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], April 23 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao on Sunday criticised the Congress for demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the Bharatmala national highway project, calling it an example of the party’s ‘double-facedness’ and questioning whether it trusts central investigative agencies.

In an interview with ANI, Sao said the Bharatmala project connecting Raipur to Visakhapatnam was initiated during the Congress regime in Chhattisgarh and that land acquisition irregularities occurred at that time. He noted that an Economic Offences Wing (EOW) investigation is currently underway, and anyone found guilty would be held accountable.

‘The Indian government has consistently prioritised road development. The Bharatmala project from Raipur to Vizag was passed when the Congress government was in power in the state. Land was acquired then, and controversies arose. Our government has now ordered an EOW probe, and strict action will be taken against those found guilty. All the scams occurred during the Congress tenure,’ Sao said.

Highlighting what he described as a contradictory stance by the Congress, Sao added, ‘This is the double-facedness of the Congress. When the ED initiates an investigation, they oppose it. Now they are demanding a CBI probe. They should first decide whether they trust central agencies or not. This is the same Congress government that had banned the CBI in Chhattisgarh. Our government has zero tolerance towards corruption. The EOW investigation is ongoing, and everything will come to light.’

The Congress recently demanded a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in land compensation distribution under the Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor, part of the Bharatmala initiative.

Calling the Congress’s accusations of central control over investigative agencies ‘baseless, unfounded, and rehearsed’, Sao said, ‘The liquor scam, coal scam, and Mahadev betting scam all happened under the Congress regime. Investigations were also initiated during their rule. These are the consequences of their own misdeeds.’

‘You looted the poor public. The central agencies can't sit silent. They will question you,’ he added.

On the BJP’s sweeping victory in the recent civic body polls in Chhattisgarh, Sao attributed the win to the public’s trust in the BJP and used the opportunity to once again criticise the Congress over alleged corruption.

‘The people of Chhattisgarh are simple and cannot be misled. They were deceived in 2018 by slogans, but after five years of misrule, they saw through the Congress. Development was stalled, and only loot and corruption took place. This victory is the people's mandate in favour of BJP's commitment to development,’ he said.

Polling for 10 municipal corporations, 49 municipal councils, and 114 Nagar Panchayats in Chhattisgarh was held in February this year.

The BJP won mayoral posts in all 10 municipal corporations and secured the chairperson's post in 35 municipal councils and 81 Nagar Panchayats across the state.

(ANI)