Baij serves legal notice to Netam, BJP leaders over conversion remark
Sushil Anand Shukla, head of the Chhattisgarh Congress Communication Department, confirmed the development.
The controversy arises from a press conference held in Raipur on June 7, during which Arvind Netam—who had recently attended an RSS event in Nagpur—reportedly questioned Baij's religious identity. Netam said, 'I want to ask Baij whether he has converted to Christianity. I suspect this when he speaks such things.
I would also like to ask what the Congress policy is regarding religious conversion.' Baij considers this statement misleading and damaging to his public image.
The
legal notice
, sent through Baij's counsel Sandeep Dubey, asserts that Netam's remark—'Main Deepak Baij se ek hi baat jaanna chahta hoon, kahin woh convert toh nahin hue hain, Isai dharm mein matantaran toh nahin hua hai' (I only want to know one thing from Deepak Baij—has he converted to Christianity?)—has defamed Baij and hurt his religious sentiments.
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The notice further alleges that the statement is fabricated.
In the legal notice, Baij, a former Bastar MP, reaffirms his deep faith in Budhadev, Mahadev, Maa Danteshwari, and all Hindu gods and goddesses.
The notice states that Netam's comment constitutes a criminal offence under Sections 353 and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Section 353 deals with 'statements conducing to public mischief,' and Section 356 pertains to 'defamation.'
Similar legal notices have also been issued to Kedar Kashyap and Mahesh Kashyap under the same provisions.
According to the notice, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap had accused Baij of sheltering religious conversions in Bastar. Likewise, Mahesh Kashyap had reportedly emphasised the anti-conversion narrative in Bastar, indirectly challenging Baij's stance on religious freedom and conversion in tribal communities.
Baij has demanded a public apology from all three leaders. The notice warns that if no response is received within 15 days, a criminal case will be filed, and further legal action will be pursued.
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