Scandals in the Name of Faith: Not Just Congress, BJP Also Under Suspicion
Raipur >> The corridors of politics and administration in Chhattisgarh are once again abuzz with allegations of scams carried out under the guise of religious and cultural events. From events like ‘Bore-Basi’ organized in the name of workers to large-scale religious gatherings, it is now becoming evident that not just the Congress government, but the current BJP government may also have indulged in similar misuse of public funds.
While the former Congress government is facing serious allegations of embezzling crores of rupees through the ‘Bore-Basi’ event—organized under the leadership of then Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Chhattisgarh Labour Welfare Board Chairman Shailesh Nitin Trivedi (Vyaapak)—the BJP regime is now under fire for alleged irregularities in events like the ‘KalpRajiv Kumbh’ and ‘Mahakumbh’.
Bore-Basi: A Cultural Facade for Publicity and Fund Misuse
On May 1, Labour Day, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had introduced ‘Bore-Basi’ as a cultural symbol of workers. It was promoted as a traditional workers’ meal and organized with state support on a grand scale across Chhattisgarh. However, behind the scenes, crores were spent without following any tender process.
Reportedly, food worth Rs 7 crore was allegedly prepared in a single day. No credible list of beneficiaries, no record of food distribution, and complete lack of transparency raise a major question: who consumed such massive amounts of food in a single day, and where? Or was it merely a paper transaction?
Government documents reveal that payments were made without tenders for items like food, banners, promotional material, stage decoration, and other logistics. All expenses were covered through the Labour Welfare Board’s funds, which should have been used for the benefit of workers.
Bhupesh’s PR Strategy, Questions on Vyaapak’s Role
Bhupesh Baghel is accused of turning the Bore-Basi event into a tool for self-promotion and political branding. Then Board Chairman Shailesh Nitin Trivedi is said to have played a key role in implementing the event.
Heavy expenditure was incurred on advertisement agencies to promote the event in national media and trend it on social media. It is being viewed as a calculated strategy to project Bhupesh Baghel as a ‘people’s leader’
Organized Without Tender, Transparency Ignored
One of the most serious allegations is that the entire event was conducted without any formal tendering process. Contracts were handed out arbitrarily, bypassing open bidding and transparency. Payments were also hurriedly cleared post-event to avoid scrutiny.
According to experts, this is one of the first instances in Chhattisgarh’s history where public funds were misused on such a large scale with no official investigation initiated so far.
BJP Government Maintains Silence, But Demand for Probe Grows
When the BJP came to power, there were expectations of an investigation into the Bore-Basi scam. However, till date, no action has been taken and no one has been held accountable. Sources indicate that the current government may be planning a high-level inquiry.
The public wants to know why a culturally significant event like Bore-Basi was allegedly turned into a vehicle for corruption.
KalpRajiv Kumbh and Mahakumbh: BJP Under Scanner Too
On the other hand, the BJP government’s ‘KalpRajiv Kumbh’ and ‘Mahakumbh’ events are now facing similar allegations of financial misconduct. Crores were reportedly spent on the Chhattisgarh Pavilion during these religious events, but details about how the funds were used remain murky.
Sources claim the same modus operandi was used—contracts awarded without process, inflated expenditures, and enormous spending on promotional material. Several contractors allegedly received work based on political connections rather than merit.
Congress Looted Bore-Basi, BJP Fingers Pointed at Mahakumbh
The biggest question in the minds of citizens is—when the Congress was embroiled in corruption in the Bore-Basi event, is the new BJP government walking down the same path?
Political analysts warn that if the BJP fails to conduct a fair probe into these events, it will signal that both parties are exploiting faith and tradition as a means to siphon off public funds.
With Both Parties Accused of Corruption, Whom Should the Public Trust?
Now that Congress faces allegations of financial misconduct in the Bore-Basi event, and BJP is accused of misusing funds under the guise of religious gatherings, the people of Chhattisgarh are left wondering whom they can trust.
Citizens demand transparency about where their tax money is going. If Congress allegedly misused funds over five years under the cover of public welfare schemes, BJP is now under suspicion for doing the same in just 15 months.
Corruption Probes Must Be Transparent and Public
Several social organizations and concerned citizens have demanded impartial investigations into these events, and that findings be made public. Those responsible should be held accountable, regardless of their political affiliations.
If these demands are ignored, this issue is sure to become a major emotional flashpoint in the upcoming elections.
Faith Exploited for Political Gain
The way cultural and religious events have been leveraged for political gain in Chhattisgarh raises a sharp question—were these events truly about devotion and tradition, or merely about publicity and profiteering?
