News Analysis India

Tag: Chhattisgarh

  • BJP delegation denied permission to enter violence-hit Kawardha district in Chhattisgarh

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Amid prevailing communal tension in the Kawardha district, the administration on Wednesday denied permission to a BJP delegation who were on their way to meet the affected families.

    “Owing to the imposition of prohibitory order Section 144 of CrPC in the municipal corporation area of Kawardha and the existing law and order situation, your request for permission to meet the affected families is rejected,” stated the letter addressed to the leader of opposition Dharamlal Kaushik. 

    Infuriated at this, the Opposition leaders staged a sit-in. “This is unfair and the state government will have to pay the price as the decision of the administration is blatant dadagiri,” said Kaushik, who led the delegation. As trouble spread on Tuesday, the Kawardha district administration clamped curfew late evening. 

    The inspector general of police Vivekanand Sinha said that the entire incident seems to be premediated as mobs were called in even when the situation was already tense due to the clashes over religious flags being brought down on Sunday, October 3, 2021. 

    The IG further informed that the violence and destruction of properties were carried out by a disorderly crowd that was reportedly brought from the neighbouring districts of Bilaspur, Dhamtari, Bemetara, Rajnandgaon, Raipur, and other places. There were reports that the mob was a part of the saffron brigade that enforced bandh, organised demonstrations, and damaged properties even while Section 144 remained enforced. “We are closely examining the video footage as well as the inputs about the incident gathered from the social media,” Sinha said. 

    The internet services in Kawardha and adjoining districts of Bemetara and Rajnandgaon have been suspended by the administration.

  • Chhattisgarh, Punjab govt to give Rs 50 lakh to families of farmers, journalist killed in Lakhimpur violence

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Both Chhattisgarh and Punjab governments on Wednesday announced a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh each to families of four farmers and a journalist killed in the violence that broke out in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri.

    The chief ministers of both the Congress-ruled states, along with party leader Rahul Gandhi, have arrived in Lucknow, from where they intend to go to Lakhimpur Kheri to meet the families of the victims.

    Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said the Lakhimpur violence reminded him of the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre in 1919.

    He said the UP government has made a “mockery” of democracy.

    “Our government will provide Rs 50 lakh each to families of farmers and the journalist killed in Lakhimpur violence,” he told reporters in Lucknow.

    Echoing the same sentiments, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said his government will also give Rs 50 lakh to the families of the farmers and the journalist.

    Four of the eight people who died in Sunday’s violence in Lakhimpur Kheri were farmers, allegedly knocked down by vehicles driven by BJP workers travelling to welcome Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to an event in the area.

    The four others included two BJP workers, a driver of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra, and Raman Kashyap, a journalist working for a private TV channel.

    While the first three were allegedly lynched by agitating farmers, the scribe, according to his father, died after being hit by a vehicle when he was covering news of farmers’ protest against Maurya’s visit to Ajay Mishra’s native place.

    The UP Police has lodged a case against Union minister Ajay Mishra’s son but no arrest has been made so far.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Amid turmoil over power-sharing formula for CM post, AICC gives vital role to Bhupendra Baghel

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Amid the simmering political turmoil over the mid-term change of leadership in the ruling Chhattisgarh Congress, the AICC has given Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel a vital responsibility — that of the senior party observer for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2022.

    During the last couple of months, CM Baghel and senior minister TS Singhdeo were seen engaging, individually, with the party leadership in Delhi, reportedly over the 2.5-year power sharing formula in Chhattisgarh. 

    The speculations over the leadership issue in the state re-gained when around 20-odd state Congress legislators and leaders, most of them first time MLAs, camped in Delhi to act as “pressure group” against any change of guard. The act was repeated again, a month after the first one, in the national capital by the Congress leaders.

    Though all the MLAs and political leaders cited their trip to Delhi as “personal” adding confusion and suspense. Even CM Baghel said “political leaders (legislators) keep going to Delhi and everyone has a right to visit”.

    “But Chhattisgarh cannot become a Punjab”, the chief minister affirmed.

    Plausible reasons for appointing Bhupesh Baghel as observer

    A known OBC face of the party
    Led Congress secured a thumping majority in 2018 Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh
    He is a farmer, so might carry an obvious appeal for the Congress party UP polls owing to his pro-farmer policy implemented in the state
    One of the very few senior Congress leaders who aggressively attacks      BJP, RSS

    “Look like the high command is not in a position to give an assurance to Baghel as it might antagonise the TS Singhdeo camp and further might reflect poorly on Rahul Gandhi, who is believed to have given the commitment over 2.5 years power sharing formula on rotation for the chief minister post”, said political analyst Parivesh Mishra.

    Giving commitment to Baghel will also indirectly mean that Rahul Gandhi is going back on his promises. 

    “What if that might lead to Singhdeo’s resignation from the state cabinet. These MLAs cannot go to Delhi without the knowledge of the CM. Why are senior Congress MLAs or leaders not going but mostly the first time legislators are?”, wondered Mishra.

    Apparently the Congress high command is not in a position to give an assurance to both of them on when Baghel will be replaced. 

    “Owing to such a fluid situation we wish to assure the party leadership that CM has all the support from the MLAs and there is good governance prevailing in Chhattisgarh. We are not sure how long the CM will continue”, said a source close to the Bhupesh Baghel camp.

    So far none of the MLAs who are camping in Delhi for the last four days, in support for Baghel, got an audience from the party leadership.

    Since the Congress leadership is facing a crisis in Punjab, it appears to be weak. So Baghel and his supporters want to create an impression before the party high command that with so many leaders with him, there is no point in change of leadership in the state.

    This evidently seems as another attempt of a show of strength.

    Now, appointing Baghel as the AICC observer also hints of a possibility that he might continue as the chief minister at least till the UP elections and the issue of power sharing arrangement remain pending.

    Meanwhile, Singhdeo cited the continuing political situation as an opportunity rather than a tug-of-war within the party as he reiterated that the high command has reserved its decision (on change of leadership).

  • Amid turmoil over power-sharing formula for CM post, AICC gives vital role to Bhupesh Baghel

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Amid a simmering political turmoil over the mid-term change of leadership in the ruling Chhattisgarh Congress, the AICC has given Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel a vital responsibility — that of the senior party observer for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2022.

    During the last couple of months, CM Baghel and senior minister TS Singhdeo were seen engaging, individually, with the party leadership in Delhi, reportedly over the 2.5-year power sharing formula in Chhattisgarh. 

    The speculations over the leadership issue in the state re-gained ground when close to 20 state Congress legislators and leaders, most of them first time MLAs, camped in Delhi to act as “pressure group” against any change of guard. The act was repeated again, a month after the first one, in the national capital by the Congress leaders.

    However, all the MLAs and political leaders cited their trip to Delhi as “personal” adding confusion and suspense. Even CM Baghel said “political leaders keep going to Delhi and everyone has a right to visit”.

    “But Chhattisgarh cannot become Punjab”, the chief minister affirmed.

    Plausible reasons for appointing Bhupesh Baghel as observer:

    A known OBC face of the Congress party
    Led Congress and secured a thumping majority in 2018 Chhattisgarh Assembly polls
    He is a farmer, so might carry an obvious appeal for the Congress party in 2022 UP polls owing to his pro-farmer policy implemented in the state
    One of the very few senior Congress leaders who aggressively attacks  BJP, RSS

    “Looks like the high command is not in a position to give an assurance to Baghel as it might antagonise the TS Singhdeo camp which might reflect poorly on Rahul Gandhi, who is believed to have given the commitment over 2.5 years power sharing formula on rotation for the chief minister post”, said political analyst Parivesh Mishra.

    Giving commitment to Baghel will also indirectly mean that Rahul Gandhi is going back on his promises. 

    “What if that might lead to Singhdeo’s resignation from the state cabinet. These MLAs cannot go to Delhi without the knowledge of the CM. Why are senior Congress MLAs or leaders not going but mostly the first time legislators are?”, wondered Mishra.

    Apparently the Congress high command is not in a position to give an assurance to both of them on when Baghel will be replaced. 

    “Owing to such a fluid situation we wish to assure the party leadership that CM has all the support from the MLAs and there is good governance prevailing in Chhattisgarh. We are not sure how long the CM will continue”, said a source close to the Bhupesh Baghel camp.

    So far none of the MLAs who are camping in Delhi since the last four days, in support for Baghel, got an audience from the party leadership.

    Since the Congress leadership is facing a crisis in Punjab, it appears to be weak. So Baghel and his supporters want to create an impression before the party high command that with so many leaders with him, there is no point in change of leadership in the state.

    This evidently seems as another attempt of a show of strength.

    Now, appointing Baghel as the AICC observer also hints of a possibility that he might continue as the chief minister at least till the UP elections and the issue of power sharing arrangement remain pending.

    Meanwhile, Singhdeo cited the continuing political situation as an opportunity rather than a tug-of-war within the party as he reiterated that the high command has reserved its decision (on change of leadership).

  • Amid buzz of a leadership change, Bhupesh Baghel made poll observer in Uttar Pradesh

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI/RAIPUR:  Amid speculation of a change of guard in Chhattisgarh, the Congress high command on Saturday appointed chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as a senior observer for the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh. 

    The appointment of Baghel amid persisting infighting in the party has raised further doubts over his continuation as the CM. But talking to reporters in Raipur, he asserted that his state can never become Punjab and that the two states bear only one similarity, of numbers in their names.

    “Chhattisgarh will always remain Chhattisgarh. It cannot become Punjab. The two states have only one similarity that both have numbers in their names,” Baghel told reporters at the helipad here when pointed out that the BJP was equating Chhattisgarh and Punjab over turmoil in the Congress.

    Plausible reasons for appointing Bhupesh Baghel as observer:

    A known OBC face of the Congress party
    Led Congress and secured a thumping majority in 2018 Chhattisgarh Assembly polls
    He is a farmer, so might carry an obvious appeal for the Congress party in 2022 UP polls owing to his pro-farmer policy implemented in the state
    One of the very few senior Congress leaders who aggressively attacks  BJP, RSS

    “Punjab is land of punj (five) aab (water). It is made up of five rivers. Similarly Chhattisgarh has derived its name from ‘chhattis’ (thirty six) ‘garh’ (fort). No other states have numbers in their names. There is no other similarity between the two states,” he added.

    The speculation over a leadership change is also because 20-odd Congress legislators and leaders, most of them first time MLAs and known to close to the CM, are again camping in Delhi. Sources said they have been sent to act as a “pressure group” against any change of guard.

    While the MLAs cited “personal” reasons for their visit to Delhi, Baghel said there was no ban on the legislators from going anywhere they wanted to and they are independent. “It is not a political movement. You ask if it is a political movement. They will visit and return,” he added.

    Sources said the legislators have not been able to meet the party high command to express their support for Baghel. They said the high command appears to be adamant on executing a change of guard in Chhattisgarh.  “Baghel may be replaced by TS Singh Deo. The appointment of Baghel as an observer is the first move before the change,” the sources said. Meanwhile, Singh Deo cited the ongoing political situation as an opportunity rather than a tug-of-war within the party.

    ‘Will do my best for the party in new role’Terming it a big responsibility, Baghel said, “The Congress president has directed me to be a senior observer for UP. I will try my best to live up to the expectations of the leadership.” ‘Parivartan ka sankalp, Congress hi vikalp’ (Resolve is of change, Cong is alternative), he tweeted.

  • Chhattisgarh: Bus carrying jawans overturned, 15 injured

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR: At least 15 security personnel were injured after the bus in which they were travelling overturned near Mainpat, in Ambikapur, north Chhattisgarh on Saturday.

    “The bus with 38 personnel on board was heading towards Mungeli district. So far, we have received a report of 15 jawans having sustained injuries. All of them have been admitted to a hospital. The condition of one is stated to be critical.

    “The security personnel were returning from the Mainpat police training school. Further details are awaited,” said Amit Tukaram Kamble, Ambikapur district police chief.

    According to the police, the driver lost control of the bus around a turning as the vehicle was moving at a speed.

    Five security who sustained minor injuries were discharged after primary treatment, the SP said.

  • INTERVIEW| COVID pandemic hit anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh: DGP DM Awasthi

    Express News Service

    DM Awasthi, the Chhattisgarh Police head, who is considered to be an expert on Left Wing Extremism, has seen  LWE from close quarters for years as the Special Director General for anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.

    In an interview to The New Indian Express’s Sana Shakil, Awasthi said that COVID-19 did affect operations against the Naxals. He defended his force against the charges of going slow on Naxals and expressed hope that several successful operations against the extremists will be carried out in the near future.

    Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel has talked about the possibility of talking to Maoists, if they surrender their weapons. Do you see any progress on that front?

    The governments at the Centre and at the state have always expressed willingness to talk to the Naxals if they give up arms. The Naxals put up various conditions like imposition of ceasefire, and release of their cadre from jails.

    Those conditions are not acceptable. One has to work within the ambit of the Constitution as the chief minister himself recently stated. Not just the governments but civil society members have also been trying to engage with the Naxals. The purpose is to ensure peace in the state. Nothing like it, if we achieve peace through non-violent means.

    Official data show that the number of operations has gone down. According to the CRPF, the police have gone slow on operations. Your response.

    There is no lack of coordination and cooperation between the police and the central forces. Local police cannot be accused of going slow on Naxal operations. There are reasons why fewer operations were carried out over the last two years.

    We have to take into account the effects of the pandemic, which affected our force. COVID has been a major challenge. I do not believe in conducting operations for the sake of numbers. Operations should result in success, and we have maintained a great success rate. We are confident of more successful operations in the near future.

    Is the government planning to introduce any new initiative to encourage more surrender?

    We recently reviewed our state surrender policy under which we have provided jobs to many Naxals. We are going to strictly monitor the implementation of the policy. When more people get rehabilitated, more get encouraged to surrender. Chhattisgarh has a very attractive policy. We will ensure better enforcement of the policy.  

    Have drone sightings increased in Naxal areas?

    We have not noticed anything alarming on that front.

  • No political angle to Congress MLAs’ visit to Delhi, says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday sought to play down the visit of a group of Congress MLAs to Delhi, saying the trip should not be seen through political prism as talks about a possible change in leadership in the state refuse to fizzle out.

    Baghel also termed as unfortunate, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal’s remarks raising questions over the party’s functioning.

    Over a dozen ruling party MLAs, considered close to Baghel, flew to the national capital on Wednesday, adding to the speculation over a possible leadership change as a part of purported power-sharing formula in the Congress government.

    However, the MLAs who have reached Delhi had said their visit was linked to the proposed tour of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi to the state, where the party came to power in 2018 after 15 years in opposition.

    Asked about their visit, Baghel told reporters here, “Tell me one thing – can’t legislators go anywhere. Every step should not be seen as politics. Anybody can go anywhere. Even you (media persons) tour with your friends and it doesn’t mean every time the purpose is getting news.”

    Similarly, if anyone has gone (to Delhi) it should not be seen through political prism, said the Congress CM.

    Asked about the possibility of the MLAs meeting AICC in-charge for Chhattisgarh P L Punia, the chief minister said, “They are politicians and will meet politicians? Is Punia ji in Delhi? If Punia ji is not in Delhi so there is no question of meeting him.”

    Baghel said Sibal’s comments on the party leadership were unfortunate.

    “Kapil Sibal ji is our senior leader, a former Union minister, a senior lawyer and such a statement by him is unfortunate. After Rahul ji resigned as AICC president (in July 2019), everyone (in the party) had accepted Sonia Gandhi ji as the interim president and she is still in the post.

    “Due to the coronavirus pandemic, election (to the post of Congress president) was cancelled. After all this, it is ridiculous to raise such questions,” he said.

    Addressing a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday, Sibal had raised questions on the party’s high command in the wake of the events unfolding in Punjab, saying Congress workers did not know who was taking decisions in the absence of a full-time president.

    Meanwhile, state Health Minister TS Singh Deo, who has been apparently seeking a change in guard, also played down the visit of MLAs to Delhi and said it should not be made an issue.

    “We all 70 MLAs can go…What is the issue if the MLAs have gone to Delhi. In Uttar Pradesh, some MLAs (of ruling BJP) had gone to Delhi in connection with the Yogi Adityanath government.

    “For many days, discussions were held following which their (BJP) high command took a decision and new ministers were inducted and a new system was created (there),” Singh Deo told reporters on Thursday when asked about the development.

    “The episode ran for several days in UP. We all heard about it. Then what new thing is happening in Chhattisgarh? I cannot understand,” he added.

    The state health minister said, “I have learnt the MLAs are (after Delhi) going to Shimla as tourists. No assembly session is underway in the state and they might have finished tour to their respective  constituencies so they must be out for some leisure.”

    Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh, who is among the legislators who are in in Delhi, had said on Wednesday that 15 to 16 party MLAs have reached the national capital to meet Punia regarding the proposed tour of Rahul Gandhi in the state.

    The schedule of Gandhi’s visit to Chhattisgarh is yet to be finalised, according to party sources here.

    Singh, considered close to Baghel, courted controversy in July when he alleged there was a threat to his life from Singh Deo.

    However, the MLA, who hails from Singh Deo’s home turf Surguja, later withdrew the claim.

    The buzz about a possible change of guard surfaced after Baghel completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    The Singh Deo camp claimed the high command in 2018 had agreed to hand over the CM’s post to him after the government completed half its term.

    The Congress high command summoned both Baghel and Singh Deo to Delhi in August in a bid to resolve the feud.

    It appeared that Baghel had won this round when he told reporters upon return that Gandhi had agreed to visit the state ‘on his invitation’, and those talking about rotating the CM’s post were promoting political instability.

    As many as 54 out of 70 Congress MLAs had visited Delhi separately when Baghel was in the national capital in an apparent show of strength by legislators supporting him.

    While both Baghel and Singh Deo have refrained from saying anything about the leadership issue since then, the speculation has not died down.

  • ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by farmer unions evokes mixed response in Chhattisgarh 

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: The Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions against the Centre’s three agriculture laws evoked a mixed response in Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh as most of the shops and establishments remained open in major cities.

    Agitators staged protests at different locations and briefly blocked roads at many places in the state demanding repeal of the three laws.

    Overall, the bandh remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported so far from any part of Chhattisgarh.

    The ruling Congress had extended support to the national shutdown.

    The Bharat Bandh, called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farm unions, marks one year since President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the three controversial laws and 10 months since thousands of farmers set up camp at Delhi’s border points to voice their protest.

    The bandh is in effect from 6 am to 4 pm.

    Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday tweeted that he supports the peaceful bandh and stands with farmer brothers.

    Claiming that the bandh was successful, Chhattisgarh Kisan Sabha (CKS) chief Sanjay Parate said farmers, labourers and people from Surguja (northern Chhattisgarh) to Bastar (southern Chhattisgarh) have extended their support to farm unions protesting against the three “black” laws.

    Protests were held in Rajnandgaon, Durg, Raipur, Dhamtari, Bastar, Bilaspur, Janjgir-Champa and other districts while farmers and tribals also blocked roads on many routes including Bakimongra-Bilaspur, Ambikapur-Raigarh, Surajpur-Banaras and Balrampur-Ranchi, Parate said.

    Farmer leaders also addressed meetings at many places and demanded the withdrawal of the three laws and sought to enact a law to ensure a guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP) for all farm produce, he said.

    Most of the shops and other commercial establishments remained open throughout the day in the state capital Raipur and public transport remained unaffected.

    At some groups of agitators were seen asking shop owners to shut their facilities here.

    In other major districts, including Bilaspur, Raigarh, Korba, Durga and Rajnandgaon, also the shops and commercial establishments functioned normally.

    Meanwhile, the opposition BJP has accused the ruling Congress of misleading farmers over the farm laws.

    “Despite the ruling party’s support to the bandh call, there was no impact of it in the state. It clearly indicates that the farmers of Chhattisgarh have recognized the Congress and its hidden agenda. The party has been misleading farmers,” said Sandip Sharma, state in-charge of BJP’s Kisan Morcha.

    Sharma also asked the Congress government to stay away from “drama” happening in the name of the farmers’ movement and to work with honesty in the interest of farmers.

  • Irked over Maoist violence, Chhattisgarh village turn up at police station to complain

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: In a rare occurrence, the residents of Manonar village in the Maoist-affected district of Narayanpur in south Chhattisgarh stood firmly in support of development and against the violence perpetrated by the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and lodged a police complaint against the rebels.

    The tribal inhabitants, including women, expressed strong resentment against the killing of supervisor Sandeep Jala and the thrashing of scores of labourers who were engaged in the construction of a bridge and road under the PMGSY in their area on Friday. The rebels also set on fire all the engaged vehicles and equipment.

    “This is an indication of how the tribals of a village arrived on their own at the Chote-donger police station to lodge their grievances. The police have registered the case on their complaint. Villagers had categorically asserted that they are not ready to compromise any longer on the development that improves connectivity to their region and open the door for growth”, said U Uday Kiran, Narayanpur district police chief.

    The villagers, who walked around 8 kilometres to reach the Chote-donger thana, had asked the police to ensure that the Maoists shouldn’t be allowed to disturb development projects in and around their rural area.

    ALSO READ | Union Home Minister Amit Shah to review situation in Naxal-hit areas with 10 CMs on Sunday

    According to the Narayanpur police, the villagers can’t be a party to such a complaint that relates either to the killing of the construction company’s staff or the halting of the work. “Only the firms involved in the project can do so. But we have assured the people of our full support. We remained concerned over these villagers being harassed by the Maoists”, the SP said.

    As the construction work stopped following the Maoists’ violence, the local tribals were unhappy. The locals protested against the Naxalites and demanded to re-start the development works.

    “The Maoists even attack and intimidate us. But we are now much aggrieved with their obstructive actions. The road construction will help our habitat with more facilities”, the villagers averred.

    The locals though were not seen as much against the raised demands that they face from the rebels than the shattering of the scope of development owing to the left-wing extremists who are known to halt the project initiatives in their stronghold, the police officials said.