Raipur, Oct 27: BJP today claimed that its workers "seized a truckload" of school bags with photographs of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi while being brought to the state from Mumbai in violation of the Election Commission's ban on its procurement and distribution. "BJP activists today handed over a truckload of school bags to Supela police in Durg district, which were being transported from Mumbai to Ambikapur, the district headquarters of Sarguja," a state BJP spokesman told reporters here.
The consignment from B M Pakitwala, Mumbai, was being transported to Tribal Welfare Department, Sarguja, he said.
It was "illegal" as the EC, in view of the coming assembly polls, has banned transportation and distribution of the bags with Jogi's images, he said. About 15,300 pieces of such bags were being transported "grossly violating the EC order". The bags were hidden with tomato on its top.
"When the vegetables were being unloaded at Supela, BJP activists got wind of the bags and subsequently a complaint was registered with police after they sat on dharna in front of the police station," he said.
SSP, Durg, Ashok Junneja said the matter was under investigation. He said the bags were not for his district.
Last week, taking a strong view of the alleged free distribution of school bags by the state government, the state EC had asked it to clarify as to how many bags have been distributed and till what date while BJP had demanded a white paper from the government on the issue.
Bureau Report