Tag: Bhupesh Baghel

  • Opposition has made population control an issue to fight elections, says Chhattisgarh CM

    By ANI
    RAIPUR: Terming the proposed population control bill by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Uttar Pradesh government as an issue to fight the upcoming elections, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday said that laws should not be made for doing politics.

    Days after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath released the draft of the proposed population control bill, Baghel said, “BJP had opposed sterilization program. Had the program been carried forward in 70s, population would not have been so high today. The Opposition had made this an issue to fight elections.”

    He further emphasized that laws are not going to resolve the problem. “Public awareness is very important,” Baghel said while speaking to media persons.

    Referring to the popular family planning campaign ‘Hum Do Hamare Do’, the Chief Minister said, “Laws should not be made for doing politics. There was a campaign before also namely ‘Hum Do Humare Do.’ It should be implemented properly and population should be controlled with the help of awareness.”

    Earlier, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliate objected to the drafted policy. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National Spokesperson Sudhindra Bhadoria had also raised concerns over the same.

    Under the proposed scheme of population control by the Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission, people with more than two children have been excluded from availing benefits under government schemes.

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adtyanath on Sunday unveiled the state’s Population Policy 2021-2030 on the occasion of World Population Day.

    He had said that every community has been taken care of in Population Policy 2021-2030. (

  • Bhupesh Baghel puts the ball in high command’s court on Chhattisgarh CM change

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  After Punjab, Congress is now facing trouble in Chhattisgarh unit with reports of tensions between Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his senior cabinet minister TS Singh Deo. Amid specualtions of leadership change in the state,  Baghle met top leadership in national capital on Sunday and said he would step down if asked by the party high command. 

    His comments came amid reports that his cabinet minister is pressing for a decision on chief ministership based on Rs 2.5-year-formula’. However, both Baghel and other Congress leaders dismissed talks of change at the top in the state.

    “If the Congress high command asks someone else to step in as chief minister of Chhattisgarh, it will be so. The high command instructed me to take oath (as CM), so I took the oath. The Congress has a three-fourth majority in Chhattisgarh. When they (high command) will say someone else will be the chief minister, then it will be so. Such agreements happen in a coalition government,” he said regarding speculations about the understanding that he will be the CM just for two-and-a-half years.

    Punia also said there was no such formula of changing chief ministers after a few years. “As Bhupesh Baghel ji also cleared, there is no such understanding or formula. The Congress party has a three-fourth majority in Chhattisgarh. Such an agreement happens in coalition governments,” he said. 

    Baghel also met Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, state in-charge P L Punia and organisation in-charge K C Venugopal. Party sources said the Chhattisgarh CM is likely to play a key role in preparing the Congress organisation in Uttar Pradesh for the assembly polls next year with a focus on strategising and booth management.

    Bhagel said that he was ready to take up responsibilities for the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh next year. “If the high command gives me any responsibility for upcoming elections in UP, I will do it,” he added.

  • Ready to step down if Congress high-command asks me: Chhattisgarh CM on sharing the post

    By PTI
    RAIPUR: Amid speculations over the purported two-and-a-half-year power-sharing formula in the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday reiterated that if the party high command asks, he would vacate the post.

    Baghel was speaking to reporters at the Raipur airport after returning from Delhi where he met AICC leaders Priyanka Gandhi and PL Punia.

    On July 9, Baghel visited Shimla where he paid last respects to former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

    He returned here this afternoon via Delhi.

    “I was in Himachal Pradesh to pay tribute to Virbhadra Singh ji, After the second wave of COVID-19 broke out (in March end), it was my first visit to Delhi. Today I held a formal meeting with Priyanka ji and Punia ji there,” he said.

    “A lot of discussions were held with Punia ji over politics in the state, various government programmes and appointments to the posts of corporations and boards,” he added.

    When told questions are being raised over the purported arrangement for the rotational chief ministership in the state, Baghel said, “You keep asking this question, the reply will be given and every time the answer will be the same. The party high command has given this responsibility, and if the high command orders to vacate, then I will do so.”

    “Media people ask this question again and again and every time the answer remains the same. Two plus two will always be four. It will neither be more than it nor less than it. Every time you ask I will give the same reply.”

    The Baghel government completed two-and-a-half years in office last month.

    Sharing the CM’s post on a rotational basis has been a buzz in Chhattisgarh’s political circles after Congress came to power in December 2018 when Baghel and his two senior cabinet colleagues TS Singh Deo and Tamradhwaj Sahu were the leading contenders for the CM post.

    When Baghel took oath as Chief Minister on December 17, 2018, Deo and Sahu had sworn in as cabinet ministers.

    The speculations were rife that consensus was built for the CM’s post based on a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing formula between Baghel and Deo.

    Meanwhile, Baghel slammed state BJP leaders for calling the ruling Congress a “nikammi” (useless) government over the alleged unavailability of anti-COVID-19 vaccines in the state.

    “It is the habit of the BJP to blame others for its mistake. The latest example can be seen in the recent reshuffle in the Union cabinet. Modiji decided to carry out the vaccination drive, impose a lockdown (during the surge of the pandemic) and export vaccines abroad. But when the Centre faced criticism over the vaccination drive, all blame was put on Dr Harsh Wadrhan, who was removed as Union health minister,” he said.

    No decision taken by the Modi government turned out to be successful, be it the GST, demonetisation, lockdown, or agriculture policy, the CM said.

    The Centre has also failed to ensure a smooth supply of fertilisers, he alleged.

    “Over one crore shots of vaccines have been administered to people (in all categories) in Chhattisgarh. Now if they do not provide vaccines, how the vaccination drive will be conducted. We cannot administer fake vaccines like it was done in Madhya Pradesh and Gujrat,” he said.

    “They (Centre) should just supply vaccines to us and if we fail to vaccinate people, then put blame on us. BJP leaders blame and criticise Jawahar Lal Nehru for every issue but they cannot question the incumbent Prime Minister because if they do so it will be considered as ‘deshdroh’,” he said.

    Baghel wondered why state BJP leaders can’t question the party brass for not inducting MPs from Chhattisgarh in the recently-expanded Union cabinet.

    “Then who is nikamma (useless)?. Those who are sitting in the Centre or those who are here (in Chhattisgarh),” he asked.

    Of the total nine BJP MPs in Chhattisgarh, only Renuka Singh is a Minister of State (tribal Affairs) in the Union government.

  • Baghel to play key role in Congress’ UP poll preparation; meets Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is likely to play a key role in preparing the Congress organisation in Uttar Pradesh for the assembly polls next year with a focus on strategising and booth management, sources said on Sunday.

    Baghel, who had played a crucial role in the run up to the Assam Assembly polls with his team carrying out extensive booth training of party workers, met Congress general secretary in-charge Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, treasurer Pawan Kumar Bansal and Rajeev Shukla here at party chief Sonia Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence.

    According to sources, Priyanka Gandhi has asked Chhattisgarh Congress leaders be sent to Uttar Pradesh, and during the meeting, an outline of booth management and worker’s conference in the poll-bound state was also discussed.

    There was also a discussion on intensifying the activities of the Congress organisation in Uttar Pradesh.

    On the recommendation of Baghel, his parliamentary advisor Rajesh Tiwari has been made AICC secretary-in-charge of Uttar Pradesh.

    Amid speculation about an agreement in 2018 that Baghel would be chief minister of Chhattisgarh for two and a half years after which the state’s health minister, T S Singhdeo, would take over, Baghel told reporters that he had taken oath after the high command asked him to and if the party top brass asks someone else to step in, it will be so.

    However, sources in the Baghel camp said the party’s top leadership has assured him that he would continue as the chief minister.

    P L Punia, the AICC in-charge Chhattisgarh, said the speculation over leadership change was only in the media and was not true.

    “Whatever is being circulated in the media (about leadership change) has no truth in it and there is no such agreement or decision on it that is being talked about,” Punia told PTI.

    Asked if Baghel would continue as the chief minister, he answered in the affirmative.

    Baghel had also met Punia at the latter’s residence here earlier in the day before heading back to Chhattisgarh.

  • Bhupesh Baghel’s appeal to farmers – Make maximum use of vermi and super compost to give a healthy and clean environment to the future generation

    Bhupesh Baghel has appealed to the farmers of the state to use more and more vermi and super compost in their fields, so that a healthy and clean environment can be created for the future generations. He has said that he is making this appeal in the capacity of a farmer.
    In his message to the farmers, Mr. Baghel has said that the cost of agriculture is increasing day by day due to the increasing price of chemical fertilizers. The benefit is becoming less than the cost. Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is reducing the fertility of the land, while the amount of toxic elements in agricultural products is increasing. Which has adverse effects on the health of the people and the environment. With the aim of solving these problems, we are promoting organic farming in the state of Chhattisgarh. Under Godhan Nyay Yojana, cow dung is being procured for Rs 2 a kg, through which women of self-help groups are making vermi compost and super compost.
    Chief Minister Shri Baghel has said that arrangements for sale of Vermi Compost and Super Compost have been made through societies. Vermi compost is being provided to the farmer at the rate of only Rs.10/kg and super-compost at Rs.6/kg. He has said – “I also want to tell that vermicompost fertilizer is being sold by a reputed company of the country for Rs 64 per kg. In comparison, we are providing high quality fertilizers to farmer brothers at 6 to 10 times less price.
    Chief Minister Shri Baghel has said in his message that the fertility of the land increases with the use of Vermi Compost and Super Compost. Crop production is better. The cost of cultivation is reduced. Their use prevents soil erosion along with improving the water holding capacity of the soil. The nutritional quality and quality of food grains, fruits and vegetables produced by organic manure are better. Organic products get good price in the market, which benefits the farmers. This compost prevents the loss of nutrients from the soil. The use of vermi and super compost reduces the incidence of pest and disease in crops.

  • Bhupesh Baghel, in a virtual program organized at his residence office here today, virtual launch of mobile banking facility at District Co-operative Central Bank Maryadit Durg and new branch of the bank at Village-Jheet, Tehsil Patan.

    Bhupesh Baghel, in a virtual program organized at his residence office here today, virtual launched the mobile banking facility at District Co-operative Central Bank Maryadit, Durg and the new branch of the bank at Village-Jheet, Tehsil Patan.
    Home Minister Shri Tamradhwaj Sahu, Cooperation Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam, Urban Administration and Development Minister Dr. Shivkumar Dahria, Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Subrata Sahu were present on this occasion.
    Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey, Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Anila Bhendia, Chairman of State Warehousing Corporation Shri Arun Vora virtually joined the program.

  • Shri Baghel will launch new branch and mobile banking service of District Co-operative Central Bank Limited on July 2.

    Bhupesh Baghel today, July 02, at his residence office in the capital Raipur, in the program organized from 11.30 am to 12 noon, District Co-operative Central Bank Limited, mobile banking facility in Durg and virtual launch of new branch of the bank in Village-Jheet, Tehsil Patan do. After this, he will review the work of Home Department and Urban Administration and Development Department in a meeting held from 12 noon to 2 pm.

  • Bhupesh Baghel reviewed the works of Public Health Engineering Department in a meeting held at his residence office here today.

    Bhupesh Baghel reviewed the works of Public Health Engineering Department in a meeting held at his residence office here today.
    Home Minister Shri Tamradhwaj Sahu, Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey, Public Health Engineering Minister Shri Guru Rudrakumar, Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Subrata Sahu, Public Health Engineering Department Secretary Shri Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi were present on the occasion.

  • Bhupesh Baghel launched the Roka-Chheka campaign to avoid open grazing of Kharif crops by animals in a virtual program organized at his residence office here today.

    Bhupesh Baghel, in a virtual program organized at his residence office here today, launched the Roka-Chheka campaign to avoid open grazing of Kharif crops by livestock.
    On this occasion, Home Minister Shri Tamradhwaj Sahu, Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey, Public Health Engineering Minister Shri Guru Rudrakumar, Advisor to Chief Minister Shri Pradeep Sharma, Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain, Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi, Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. M. Geeta Dr. S. Bharathidasan, Special Secretary, Agriculture Department, Director Shri Yashwant Kumar were present.

  • Bhupesh Baghel is reviewing MNREGA, Narva Vikas, Gothan and Rural Landless Mazdoor Nyay Yojana with senior officials at his residence office here today

    Bhupesh Baghel is reviewing MGNREGA, Narva Vikas, Gothan and Rural Landless Mazdoor Nyay Scheme with senior officials at his residence office here today.
    On this occasion Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey, Revenue Minister Shri Jaisingh Agarwal, Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Subrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Smt. Renu Ji Pillay, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Shri Rakesh Chaturvedi, Principal Secretary Forest Shri Manoj Pingua, Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Shri Prasanna R, Secretary Water Resources Shri Avinash Champawat, Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi and senior departmental officers are present.