News Analysis India

Tag: Chhattisgarh

  • BJP rakes up religious conversion in Chhattisgarh, will launch statewide ‘Halla Bol’ 

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR: The opposition BJP kick-off ‘Halla Bol’ against the Chhattisgarh government over the alleged rising incidents of ‘religious conversion’ from Saturday.

    With about two years remaining for the Assembly polls, the issue of religious conversion snowballed into a major controversy following the Sukma SP’s assertion in July this year that the Christian missionaries were involved in encouraging the practice.

    The BJP claimed that considerable religious conversions are being carried out under the shelter of the state government.

    The BJP MPs, MLAs, senior leaders, and cadres organised a ‘peace foot march’ against the alleged religious conversion from Azad Chowk to Rajbhawan where they submitted a memorandum to Governor Anusuiya Uike.

    ALSO READ | Anti-Brahmin remarks case: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s father granted bail

    “We have expressed our genuine concern with the Governor over the increasing incidents of religious conversion, and those involved in it are getting the state shelter in Chhattisgarh”, said Raman Singh, the former chief minister and BJP national vice-president.

    The BJP state president Vishnu Deo Sai said that earlier only the tribals were lured into religious conversion but now every segment of the population is being targeted right from the capital Raipur to the remote tribal belts. “So we have urged the intervention of the Governor to ensure a strict ban over the incidents of religious conversion”, said Brijmohan Agrawal, senior BJP legislator.

    The opposition has further planned to organise demonstrations outside the police station in every district with the demand to “put a check on the religious conversion” from Sunday. On September 13-14 the BJP leaders and cadres will continue their protest at the block level.

    The ruling Congress party however called the BJP’s allegation as a desperate attempt to regain the lost ground.

    “My government will take prompt action against anyone found involved in forced religious conversion. Not just the highest number of religious conversions but more churches were built when the BJP was in power in Chhattisgarh”, averred the chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in response to the BJP’s protest.

    “The opposition now lacks issues against the state government and is trying to exploit the sentiments of the people as a last-ditch effort to revive their political fortune”, claimed Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, chairman, Congress media cell.

  • Anti-Brahmin remarks case: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel’s father granted bail

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s 86-year-old father Nand Kumar Baghel was granted bail by the Raipur court on Friday.

    He was sent to jail on judicial remand till September 21 over his alleged derogatory remarks against the Brahmin community citing them as “foreigners” at a public event and urged the people to boycott them.

    Nand Kumar Baghel’s lawyer had submitted an application for bail at a local court in Raipur.

    On the written complaint by the Sarv Brahmin Samaj, the Raipur police had lodged an FIR against Chhattisgarh CM’s father, under the Sections 153-A (offence for promoting disharmony, enmity, or hatred between different groups) and 505-1(B) (statement causing fear or alarm or provokes feelings of enmity or hatred among a group) of the IPC. He was arrested and produced before the court on September 7.

    Before his father’s arrest, the CM had expressed anguish after learning about the alleged remarks made against the community. Baghel said that the law is equal for all and the police should initiate appropriate legal action. “No one is above the law. As a son, I respect my father but for us the law is supreme”, the CM affirmed.

  • Maoist leader carrying Rs 8 lakh bounty surrenders in Chhattisgarh 

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Senior cadre of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) Sodi Muya, who was carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, surrendered before the Sukma police and the CRPF DIG in south Chhattisgarh on Thursday.

    “Sodi Muya, secretary of Kerlapal Area Committee was active in the Maoist organisation for the past 15 years and there are around 20 cases registered against him in different police stations of the district. He decided to surrender after realizing hollow anti-development and anti-tribal ideology of Maoists”, said Sunil Sharma, Sukma SP.

    He will be entitled to all the assistance given under the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the state government, the SP added.

    Muya renounced the banned organisation under the ongoing ‘Puna Narkom’ campaign (in local tribal Gondi dialect meaning ‘New Dawn’) launched by the Sukma police.

    Sukma is among the seven Maoist-affected districts in the conflict zone of Bastar.

  • Most churches built in Chhattisgarh during BJP regime: CM Bhupesh Baghel

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR: The ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Chhattisgarh are now holding each other responsible for the existing number of Churches in the state. 

    CM Bhupesh Baghel had on Wednesday dismissed BJP’s allegations of rising religious conversion under his government and said the maximum number of churches were constructed under the BJP rule in the state.

    “Media reports on BJP Chintan Shivir highlight that the 15-year misrule of Raman Singh is being discussed. Religious conversion is also part of this discussion. Records show that the maximum number of churches were constructed under BJP rule in Chhattisgarh,” Baghel had said addressing a media query regarding BJP’s allegation.

    “BJP is desperate to return to the power in the state and so they are endevouring to raise the issue of religious conversion which they also discussed in their Chintan shivir (brainstorming session) of their senior leaders at Bastar. But in Chhattisgarh, the maximum number of churches were built during earlier 15-year-rule of Raman Raj (BJP)”, the CM said and claimed that any religious conversion if happening is only voluntarily. 

    “Let them bring a single case of religious conversion either by force or allurement, the state government will take action”, Baghel challenged the BJP.

    However, the opposition strongly countered Baghel saying that when the Congress leaders were knowing about the growing numbers of churches, why they had not raised the issue earlier.

    “Everyone knows under whose regime there has been an increase in religious conversion or the churches. Why the Congress leaders never discussed these issues in the Assembly or elsewhere? As an opposition we deliberated on religious conversion in the House and demanded to put a stop to it,” said Raman Singh, former CM, and BJP national vice-president.

    The Christian community is not happy with both the political parties for turning their worshipping place as the “political focal point”. 

    “It’s really sad. All these arguments seem to be the politically-motivated game plan. The Christian community of the state and church was used as a football by the parties. The number of Christians had actually decreased as per the census. So where does the question of religious conversion arise? Raking up such an issue may give the parties some short-term political gain but without ensuring peace how can the nation progress? What the church, that never receives any government funds, has to do with its development?”, asked Victor Henry, the Arch Bishop (Chhattisgarh) while talking to The New Indian Express.

    “Is our religious place of worship illegal or unconstitutional structure and building it is a criminal act? The Christians are deeply upset and feel insecure over such political feuds seen in the number of churches in Chhattisgarh. What’s the problem if more churches came up during the BJP’s rule”,  asserted Arun Pannalal, president of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum.

  • 101 women sterilised in just 7 hours in Chhattisgarh, probe ordered

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: In the Ambikapur district of Chhattisgarh, the health department carried out tubectomy on 101 women, mostly tribals, in just 7 hours at a government mass sterilisation camp.

    These women, from Mainpat and Sitapur blocks of the district, arrived at the Narmadapur community health centre for sterilisation. They were asked to rest on the rugged mat for 10-15 minutes on the floor and later sent back home. The sterilisation surgeries were reportedly carried out between 8 pm and 3 am.

    It appears no lesson has been learnt from the botched sterilisation cases operated at a government camp in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district in November 2014 when 15 women had died owing to the suspected infections. 

    Following the tragedy, a government directive clarified that only 30 women should have undergone sterilisation operations per day at a camp. 

    “As usual, the family planning burden apparently continues to fall on the women more than the men. And surprisingly the specified norms have been so conveniently flouted”, said Dr Parivesh Mishra, a health expert.

    The block medical officers in-charge Dr Jibnus Ekta, a surgeon and Dr R S Singh said that it was a helpless situation owing to the surge in the number of women turning up at the health centre for sterilisation.

    “The women were adamant that they would not be returning without undergoing the surgery”, they claimed.

    After the incident came to the limelight, the district chief medical and health officer P S Sisodia constituted a 3-member team of doctors to probe into it. 

    Meanwhile, the department has also served notices seeking an explanation from the concerned two doctors engaged at the sterilisation camp. 

  • Chhattisgarh mob of over 100 thrashes pastor, family over alleged religious conversion 

    By PTI

    KAWARDHA: (Chhattisgarh): A group of over 100 people allegedly beat up a 25-year-old pastor after barging into his house at a remote village in Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district on Sunday, during which they were heard raising slogans against religious conversion, a police official said.

    The mob also vandalised his property and manhandled his family members before fleeing from the spot, he said.

    The incident took place around 11 am in Polmi village under Kukdur police station limits when a prayer was underway at the house of pastor Kawalsingh Paraste, said Kabirdham Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg.

    “As per the preliminary information, a crowd of over 100 people stormed into his house and allegedly damaged articles of worship and household items, and tore scriptures,” he said.

    “They allegedly beat up Paraste and manhandled his family members, including women, and then escaped,” he said, adding the attackers were heard raising slogans to stop religious conversion.

    ALSO READ | Muslim man forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in Madhya Pradesh; cops arrest two men

    Soon after being alerted about it, a police team was rushed to the spot, he said. A case is being lodged in this connection and further action will be taken accordingly, Garg said.

    Meanwhile, president of Chhattisgarh’s Christian Forum, Arun Pannalal, has accused the police and the state government of not taking appropriate action in cases of attacks on Christian places of worship.

    “This is a very dangerous trend, which has become prevalent in the state and the government has failed to stop this.

    We are pained by the helplessness of this government,” he said.

    “In the last 15 days, at least 10 such attacks allegedly occurred at our religious places across the state, but in none of the cases action police took any action. We just want justice. Repeated occurrence of such incidents indicates that the government has been favouring those who are involved in vandalism,” he added.

    Pannalal further said various denominations of Christian community in the state recently held a meeting in Bilaspur and decided to form a squad to defend the places of offering prayers.

    The forum is also going to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court with all evidence citing police’s alleged inaction in cases of vandalism of churches in different districts of the state, he added.

  • Drought-hit farmers in Chhattisgarh to get Rs 9,000 per acre aid: CM Bhupesh Baghel

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday said that if the crops sown by the farmers in the state during the ongoing Kharif season get destroyed due to drought-like conditions, then they would be given financial assistance of Rs 9,000 per acre.

    “Shortage of rainfall has given rise to drought-like conditions in several areas (of Chhattisgarh). The state government stands with farmers in this time of crisis,” an official statement quoted the chief minister as saying.

    “Those farmers who have sown paddy, kodo-kutki (millet), arhar pulse in the ongoing kharif season and if their crops get destroyed due to lack of rainfall, they will be given an assistance of Rs 9,000 per acre on the basis of survey (for assessment of damage) under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana (RGKNY),” he said.

    Under the RGKNY, the state government provides input assistance to farmers for crop production.

    The chief minister also said the biography of folk artists late Punaram Nishad and late Madan Kumar Nishad would be published and directed the Chhattisgarh State Text Book Corporation chairman to take necessary steps in this regard, the statement said.

  • Bhupesh Baghel meets Rahul Gandhi again amidst tussle for CM’s post in Chhattisgarh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Amid an ongoing power tussle in the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel met Rahul Gandhi at the latter’s residence on Friday for the second time this week.

    Baghel arrived here from Raipur and reached Gandhi’s Tughlaq Lane residence around 4 pm for the meeting, which also attended by AICC in-charge for Chhattisgarh P L Punia.

    This is the Chhattisgarh chief minister’s second meeting with Gandhi this week, as the two had met earlier on Tuesday.

    Gandhi had also separately met Chhattisgarh Health minister T S Singh Deo on Tuesday.

    Both Baghel and Deo had also met AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal on Wednesday, amid talks of a leadership change sought by Deo following differences between the two state leaders.

    Trouble has been brewing in the Chhattisgarh Congress ever since Deo sought a change in leadership citing a power-sharing agreement on rotating chief ministership after the party came to power in the 2018 assembly polls.

    Meanwhile, several legislators including a host of ministers in Chhattisgarh, camping in the national capital since Thursday, put up a show of strength in support of the chief minister.

    The ministers and MLAs met AICC in-charge P L Punia at his residence and are learnt to have put their weight behind Baghel, saying the state government is providing good governance under the incumbent chief minister.

  • Bhupesh Baghel likely to visit Delhi on August 27 as talks of rift in Chhattisgarh Congress persist

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is likely to visit Delhi on Friday, for the second time this week, to meet senior Congress leaders, party sources said on Thursday, amid reports of a continuing rift in the state unit despite he rejecting talks about a rotation of the CM’s post.

    According to Congress sources here, several party MLAs who are close to Baghel have started leaving for Delhi, while two ministers and some legislators are already camping in the national capital.

    Baghel had returned to Raipur from Delhi on Wednesday evening after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi held meetings with him and minister T S Singh Deo in a bid to resolve a power tussle between the two senior leaders.

    Earlier in the day, over a dozen Congress legislators and functionaries held a meeting at New Circuit House in Raipur, the sources said.

    “The chief minister would leave for Delhi on Friday, while Singh Deo is in Delhi,” they said.

    A Congress MLA said they will discuss the situation in the state, where the party came to power in December 2018 after ending the BJP’s 15-year-long rule, with the high command.

    “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, we (government) have been continuously serving the people of Chhattisgarh. (We) will talk to the Delhi high command about the situation (of the state),” Devendra Yadav, among the legislators who left for Delhi, told reporters at the airport here when queried about the purpose of his visit to the national capital.

    Asked how many Congress MLAs are going to Delhi, Yadav, said, “all and all MLAs are united.”

    Meanwhile, state Congress chief Mohan Markam denied reports that he and MLAs have been summoned to Delhi by the party high command.

    “Media reports are coming that the Chhattisgarh Congress President has been called to Delhi but I wanted to confirm that neither I nor MLAs have been called by the high command. The state’s in-charge, PL Punia, has also clarified that the high command has not called any MLAs or ministers,” he said in a video message circulated on social media.

    He appealed to Congress MLAs to follow directives of the high command and senior leaders and maintain party discipline.

    After Rahul Gandhi’s meetings with Baghel and Singh Deo in Delhi on Tuesday, Punia had told reporters that their talks centred around development issues and not leadership change.

    After arriving here from Delhi, Baghel on Wednesday had said those who are talking about “two and a half years’ (power sharing formula) are trying to bring political instability and they will never succeed.”

    State Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat had tweeted pictures of grand reception of Baghel at the airport and wrote, “those who want to destabilise the government should understand that this is the government of farmers, tribals and common people.”

    When the Congress opted for Baghel for the top post following its victory in the 2018 assembly polls, there was speculation that Singh Deo, another contender in the fray, would be allowed to take over as CM after two and a half years.

    Baghel completed two and a half years in office in June 2021.

  • Supreme Court protects suspended IPS officer of Chhattisgarh, terms filing of sedition cases as ‘disturbing’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Filing of sedition cases when regimes change is a “disturbing trend”, the Supreme Court said on Thursday, granting protection from arrest to a suspended senior IPS officer against whom two criminal cases for offence of sedition and amassing disproportionate assets have been filed by the Chhattisgarh government.

    A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana directed the state police not to arrest its own suspended senior IPS officer Gurjinder Pal Singh in the cases.

    It however directed Singh to cooperate with the agencies in the ongoing investigation.

    “This is a very disturbing trend in the country and the police department is also responsible for this. When a political party is in power, police officials take side of the particular (ruling) party.

    “Then when another new party comes into power, the government initiates action against the police officials. This needs to be stopped,” the bench said.

    The bench, also comprising Justice Surya Kant, directed the state government to file its responses to the two separate petitions within four weeks during which the police officer will not be arrested.

    Senior lawyers F S Nariman and Vikas Singh appeared for the suspended police officer and the state government was represented by senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Raeksh Dwivedi.

    Two cases pertaining to the offence of sedition and for amassing disproportionate assets respectively have been lodged against Singh by the Congress-led Chhattisgarh government.