Chhattisgarh minister Kedar Kashyap accused of assaulting staffer at Jagdalpur circuit house; minister denies allegation

RAIPUR: Politics in Chhattisgarh hot up after Kedar Kashyap, Chhattisgarh minister for forest and transport was accused of slapping and verbally abusing a daily wage employee at Jagdalpur circuit house on Saturday evening. While the opposition Congress has strongly condemned the issue, the employee Khitendra Pandey has lodged a written complaint at Jagdalpur police station.

Refuting the allegations, minister Kedar Kashyap stated that no such incident has taken place. “Congress is facing a dearth of issues and they are left with misleading propaganda. It's an unbearable situation for me if our God-like workers are ever insulted. The incident that is being discussed has not occurred,” said Kashyap in a formal statement.

Kashyap called the accusations “false and politically motivated.”

BJP workers present at the spot also defended the minister, claiming the accusations were exaggerated. They said Kashyap had only pulled up staff for leaving arrangements in the hands of one family for decades.

In a video of the employee, Khitendra Pandey, he’s seen alleging that the minister slapped him, hurled abuses and even raised a shoe during an altercation over not opening a room at circuit house on time. He said that he will take up the matter to the police, seeking justice, because he had opened the rooms as asked to, despite that he was slapped.

Pandey then filed a complaint at Kotwali police station alleging the incident took place on Saturday evening when he was preparing snacks. “The minister’s PSO called me to his room. Kashyap ji shouted at me for not opening the room on time. He picked up a shoe, abused me with filthy words, grabbed my collar and slapped me two to three times. I am a paralysis patient,” Pandey said in his statement.

Jagdalpur SP Shalabh Sinha confirmed to TOI that a written complaint was lodged and investigation was underway.

Congress mounts attack

The opposition Congress was quick to seize on the issue. State Congress president Deepak Baij called Kashyap’s conduct “shameful,” saying: “He has not only disrespected a Class IV employee but also ignored the values of elderly people. This is arrogance, not leadership.”

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also hit out, demanding a public apology from the minister. “Kashyap insulted and assaulted an employee, using filthy abuses. BJP must seek his resignation immediately.”

BJP workers present at the spot defended the minister, claiming the accusations were exaggerated.