Arrest BJP MP for nexus with pro-Maoist businessmen, says Congress

Opposition Congress on Tuesday demanded arrest of a ruling BJP MP and an MLA from the Bastar region accusing them of having "close association" with two businessmen who were recently arrested for acting as Maoist couriers and raising funds for insurgents.

"Kanker Lok Sabha MP Sohan Potai and Antagarh MLA Vikram Usendi have close relations with arrested businessmen Neeraj Chopra and his uncle Dharmendra Chopra. They (BJP leaders) should be arrested and interrogated," Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bhupesh Baghel told reporters in Raipur.

Accusing the BJP government of suppressing the issue, he said there is need to investigate what kind of relationship existed among the senior BJP leaders and arrested businessmen.

The Chhattisgarh police had arrested eight Maoist couriers recently, including Kanker-based businessmen Neeraj Chopra and Dharmendra Chopra who were allegedly involved in procuring funds for the insurgents.

Dharmendra Chopra who was arrested from Raipur airport while trying to flee on Friday night, is said to be connected to high profile personalities of the state.

Attacking the BJP, Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo demanded enactment of a new law on the lines of the recently passed Lokayukta and Lokpal Act 2013 in the state.

"The present structure of the Lok Ayog in the state has failed to curb increasing corruption here. Therefore, a new law at par with the recently passed Lokayukta and Lokpal Act 2013 needs to be enacted," Singhdeo said.

However, rejecting charges by the Congress about an alleged nexus between arrested Maoist conduits and ruling BJP leaders, senior BJP leader Sachchidanand Upasane said senior Congress leaders should refrain from levelling such baseless charges.

"The state chief of a national level party (Bhupesh Baghel) should not make such statements without any evidence. Such statements are not in the interest of the state which is fighting hard to wipe out Maoism," Upasane said.

Taking on Congress over the Lokpal issue, Upasane said everybody knew the "drama" by Congress and its allies while discussing the Lokpal Bill in Parliament and how the party got the bill passed right ahead of the Lok Sabha elections for political advantage.