Society president Nirendra Sahu announced plans to submit memorandums to superintendents of police across all districts. He scheduled a press conference for January 5 to detail further steps.
The community views the comment as an insult to their "pride," given Arun Sao's prominence as an OBC leader from the Sahu caste.Baghel made the remark recently while addressing protesters in Bilaspur's Lingiyadih area. Residents there have agitated for over 37 days against plans to demolish homes for a garden.
He criticized the BJP government, questioning if Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai would stroll there with his wife. Baghel then targeted Sao over slow development, saying only 950 meters of road had been built in two years and likening his performance to a monkey's. Baghel also mocked BJP MLA Amar Agrawal and others as reduced to "sentries" after missing cabinet posts.
The Sahu Society swiftly condemned the language. Leaders circulated letters to district presidents, directing coordinated action against what they called derogatory speech toward a community icon. Arun Sao, a key OBC face in the ruling BJP, has not publicly responded yet. The controversy highlights lingering tensions between Congress and BJP, with caste identities often fueling political rhetoric in the state.
If no apology comes, the society warned of forced agitation, potentially escalating ahead of upcoming events. Analysts note the Sahu community's influence in Chhattisgarh politics, where OBC votes remain crucial. Past disputes have seen similar mobilizations sway public sentiment.
