Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has hit back at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley a day after the latter tweeted that ‘Congress aligned with the Maoist in the recent Chhattisgarh elections’.

Baghel described Jaitley’s tweet an insult to the people of Chhattisgarh as well as of democracy. 

Commercial Tax (Excise) and Industries Minister Kawasi Lakhma, a popular tribal face of Bastar region, too slammed the powerful Union Minister and sought his apology.

Jaitley on Sunday had tweeted, “The Congress aligned with the Maoist in the recent Chhattisgarh elections. Rahul Gandhi stood shoulder to shoulder with the ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Congress was in the forefront of defending the urban naxals in court.”

Baghel totally disapproved the tweet. In a set of two tweets, addressing Jaitley as ‘Blog Minister Jaitley’ wrote, “Would have heard the name of Jheeram? Did you forget the ‘Supari killing’ just before election with cooperation of naxalites in 2013? The Naxalites had killed all the leaders after asking names from each one. Mahendra Bhaiya, Nandu Bhaiya and Vidhya Bhiaya along with 31 Congress leaders were martyred.”

The second tweet adds, “.. and you are raising awful, absurd and unfounded allegations of nexus with naxalites? The nexus of Congress is with State farmers, tribe, women and youth, understand? Please do not belittle the great people and democracy of Chhattisgarh. Rest Get Well Soon..” It was tagged to the official twitter handle of Arun Jaitley.

Meanwhile, Commercial Tax (Excise) and Industries Minister Kawasi Lakhma dissenting on the tweet said such a statement by Union Minister is an insult to the tribes of State.