News Analysis India

Tag: RAIPUR

  • Raman Singh: Chhattisgarh: Former CM Raman Singh resigns as BJP VP

    After filing his nomination for the post of Speaker in the newly-elected legislative assembly of Chhattisgarh, former CM Raman Singh resigned from the post of National Vice President of the Bhartiya Janata Party on Sunday.

    “At present, I am discharging the post of National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party but I have been nominated by the party for the post of Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker. Therefore, I respectfully submit my resignation from the National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Please accept my resignation,” Raman Singh wrote in his resignation letter addressed to BJP Chief JP Nadda.

    After submitting his nomination papers, Raman Singh said, “I will ensure the proper functioning of the Vidha Sabha and that all issues for the welfare of Chhattisgarh are raised.”Former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was also present at the time of the nomination.

    Meanwhile, senior BJP MLA Ramvichar Netam took the oath as the pro-tem Speaker of the newly-elected Chhattisgarh legislative assembly on Sunday.

    Pro-tem speaker is a temporary position of a speaker appointed for a limited period of time to facilitate the conduct of the business of the House in the absence of a regular speaker.Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan administered the oath of office to Netam at a function held at Raj Bhavan in the state capital.Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was also present on the occasion.

    After taking the oath of office, Netam said, “Many best wishes and gratitude to all for providing me with this opportunity. This is a great honour and achievement in my life. I will delicately fulfil all the duties of a protem speaker.”

    Ramvichar Netam is an MLA from the Ramanujganj constituency.

    The polling in the state was held in two phases, with the first on November 7 featuring 223 candidates and the second seeing 958 candidates put their electoral fates to the test on November 17.

    Of the 90 assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh, the BJP bagged 54 while the Congress won 35.

  • Kharge talks tough on accountability from ‘top to bottom’, Congress plenary in Feb in Raipur 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday sent out a stern message to leaders to perform or make way for others, and strongly pitched for accountability of office-bearers “from top to bottom” as he presided over the first meeting of the party’s steering committee.

    During the meeting at the AICC headquarters here, the Congress also decided to hold its plenary session in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, in the second half of February, where Kharge’s election as president would be ratified.

    As the Congress plans to end the Bharat Jodo Yatra by January 26, the Committee decided to continue its mass outreach with the ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan (Joining Hands campaign)’ till March 26, during which foot marches will be taken out from village to block and district levels and will culminate as public rallies at state headquarters.

    The party will also hand out a letter by Rahul Gandhi talking about the core message of the yatra, along with a “charge sheet” against the Modi government.

    The party also plans to take out state-level marches by women party workers across the country which will be led by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

    In his introductory remarks at the meeting, Kharge batted for organisational accountability in the party and said those unable to fulfil their responsibilities will have to make way for their colleagues.

    He also asked whether the party in-charges have visited their respective areas for even 10 days in a month.

    He also asked state in-charges to submit a roadmap for holding mass movements for raising people’s issues over a period of 30 to 90 days and sought a schedule of planned programmes in states where elections are due before 2024.

    “I believe that the biggest part of our responsibility towards the party and the country is — organisational accountability from top to bottom.

    If the Congress organisation is strong, accountable and lives up to the expectations of the people, only then we will be able to win elections and serve the people of the country,” the Congress chief said.

    During the meeting of the steering committee, which replaced the party’s top decision-making body Congress Working Committee (CWC) till the plenary, the party stressed on unity and urged members to work with a sense of collective purpose to ensure the Congress’ victory.

    The Congress is mired in factionalism in several states including in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the two states where it is in power of its own.

    “The victory of the party will be the victory of every leader and karyakarta and a victory for the idea of India that guided our freedom movement and is enshrined in our Constitution,” the party statement said.

    During the meeting, the leaders also discussed the party’s prospects in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, with in-charges in these states giving their reports.

    Talking tough, Kharge sent out a stern message to office bearers, saying while there are very responsible people in the party who were doing their duty, “some people had assumed that lack of responsibility will be ignored”.

    “This is neither right nor acceptable. Those who are unable to fulfil their responsibility will have to make way for their other colleagues,” he said.

    Kharge said he would like the general secretaries and state in-charges to first fulfil responsibilities.

    “You should introspect whether as general secretaries and in-charges of states you tour your respective areas under your charge for at least 10 days in a month. Have you visited every district unit and discussed issues with party leaders, inquired about local problems and issues?” Kharge said.

    Kharge asked the in-charges if all the District Congress and Block Congress Committees have been formed under them and whether the organisation is fighting for the people’s issues.

    “Have more and more new faces been given a chance at the block and district levels? “How many units are there where the district and block units have not been changed for five years? How many times agitations have taken place on the directives of the AICC on local problems,” Kharge said.

    He also said unless general secretaries and in-charges, secretaries, state Congress chiefs, party MLAs and MPs do not prepare a blueprint for actions at the ground level, “our responsibilities cannot be fulfilled”.

    “I hope that all of you will prepare a blueprint for the organisation and mass movements and discuss it with me in the next 15 to 30 days,” the Congress chief said.

    The Committee unanimously resolved that the 85th Plenary Session of the Congress will be held at Raipur in Chhattisgarh in the second half of February 2023, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said at a press conference.

    Chhattisgarh is going to polls later next year.

    “We will have a discussion on various subjects at this three-day plenary session. There will also be a big public meeting,” he said.

    The steering committee meeting also held a review of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and a future course of action was decided upon.

    “It has been decided that a massive campaign ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan’ will be carried out from January 26 for two months,” he said.

    Venugopal said it is not practical for Rahul Gandhi to attend the winter session of Parliament as he is undertaking the yatra.

    Asked whether the new CWC will be an elected body, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that it would be formed as per the Congress Constitution.

    He said the party is aiming to finish the Kanyakumari to Srinagar yatra by January 26.

    It will enter Delhi on December 24 and the containers will be serviced for a few days here, he said.

    In a statement, the party said it has a critical role to play in finding solutions to challenges before the country.

    The committee also noted the “overwhelming success” of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the wide participation of lakhs of people.

    “The Committee particularly appreciated the leadership of former president Rahul Gandhi, whose ‘Tapasya’, unfailing determination, and love for India and her people have been critical to the success of the Yatra,” the party said.

    The Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying while India faces challenges, he continues to “deny, distract and divide”.

    “His inflammatory rhetoric during the recent election campaigns in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh has further polarised the polity and society at a time when serious discussion and debate are needed,” it alleged.

    Kharge claimed Bharat Jodo Yatra has taken the form of a national movement, saying that it is scripting history under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

    “It is a movement that has called for a decisive war against the back-breaking inflation, unemployment, intolerable economic and social inequality, and the politics of hatred in the country,” he said The biggest success of this journey is that the Bharat Jodo Yatra has taken the form of a national mass movement, he said.

    He also said it is the duty of Congress persons to fight against ruling forces that sow “seeds of hatred” and “reap fruits of division”.

    This is our ‘rashtradharm’, he added.

    Besides Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel, general secretary in-charge organisation Venugopal, senior leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, Meira Kumar and Ambika Soni were among those who attended the meeting.

    Rahul Gandhi did not attend the meeting due to the Bharat Jodo Yatra which is set to enter Rajasthan on Sunday evening.

    Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also not present at the meeting.

    NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday sent out a stern message to leaders to perform or make way for others, and strongly pitched for accountability of office-bearers “from top to bottom” as he presided over the first meeting of the party’s steering committee.

    During the meeting at the AICC headquarters here, the Congress also decided to hold its plenary session in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, in the second half of February, where Kharge’s election as president would be ratified.

    As the Congress plans to end the Bharat Jodo Yatra by January 26, the Committee decided to continue its mass outreach with the ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan (Joining Hands campaign)’ till March 26, during which foot marches will be taken out from village to block and district levels and will culminate as public rallies at state headquarters.

    The party will also hand out a letter by Rahul Gandhi talking about the core message of the yatra, along with a “charge sheet” against the Modi government.

    The party also plans to take out state-level marches by women party workers across the country which will be led by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

    In his introductory remarks at the meeting, Kharge batted for organisational accountability in the party and said those unable to fulfil their responsibilities will have to make way for their colleagues.

    He also asked whether the party in-charges have visited their respective areas for even 10 days in a month.

    He also asked state in-charges to submit a roadmap for holding mass movements for raising people’s issues over a period of 30 to 90 days and sought a schedule of planned programmes in states where elections are due before 2024.

    “I believe that the biggest part of our responsibility towards the party and the country is — organisational accountability from top to bottom.

    If the Congress organisation is strong, accountable and lives up to the expectations of the people, only then we will be able to win elections and serve the people of the country,” the Congress chief said.

    During the meeting of the steering committee, which replaced the party’s top decision-making body Congress Working Committee (CWC) till the plenary, the party stressed on unity and urged members to work with a sense of collective purpose to ensure the Congress’ victory.

    The Congress is mired in factionalism in several states including in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the two states where it is in power of its own.

    “The victory of the party will be the victory of every leader and karyakarta and a victory for the idea of India that guided our freedom movement and is enshrined in our Constitution,” the party statement said.

    During the meeting, the leaders also discussed the party’s prospects in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, with in-charges in these states giving their reports.

    Talking tough, Kharge sent out a stern message to office bearers, saying while there are very responsible people in the party who were doing their duty, “some people had assumed that lack of responsibility will be ignored”.

    “This is neither right nor acceptable. Those who are unable to fulfil their responsibility will have to make way for their other colleagues,” he said.

    Kharge said he would like the general secretaries and state in-charges to first fulfil responsibilities.

    “You should introspect whether as general secretaries and in-charges of states you tour your respective areas under your charge for at least 10 days in a month. Have you visited every district unit and discussed issues with party leaders, inquired about local problems and issues?” Kharge said.

    Kharge asked the in-charges if all the District Congress and Block Congress Committees have been formed under them and whether the organisation is fighting for the people’s issues.

    “Have more and more new faces been given a chance at the block and district levels? “How many units are there where the district and block units have not been changed for five years? How many times agitations have taken place on the directives of the AICC on local problems,” Kharge said.

    He also said unless general secretaries and in-charges, secretaries, state Congress chiefs, party MLAs and MPs do not prepare a blueprint for actions at the ground level, “our responsibilities cannot be fulfilled”.

    “I hope that all of you will prepare a blueprint for the organisation and mass movements and discuss it with me in the next 15 to 30 days,” the Congress chief said.

    The Committee unanimously resolved that the 85th Plenary Session of the Congress will be held at Raipur in Chhattisgarh in the second half of February 2023, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said at a press conference.

    Chhattisgarh is going to polls later next year.

    “We will have a discussion on various subjects at this three-day plenary session. There will also be a big public meeting,” he said.

    The steering committee meeting also held a review of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and a future course of action was decided upon.

    “It has been decided that a massive campaign ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan’ will be carried out from January 26 for two months,” he said.

    Venugopal said it is not practical for Rahul Gandhi to attend the winter session of Parliament as he is undertaking the yatra.

    Asked whether the new CWC will be an elected body, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that it would be formed as per the Congress Constitution.

    He said the party is aiming to finish the Kanyakumari to Srinagar yatra by January 26.

    It will enter Delhi on December 24 and the containers will be serviced for a few days here, he said.

    In a statement, the party said it has a critical role to play in finding solutions to challenges before the country.

    The committee also noted the “overwhelming success” of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the wide participation of lakhs of people.

    “The Committee particularly appreciated the leadership of former president Rahul Gandhi, whose ‘Tapasya’, unfailing determination, and love for India and her people have been critical to the success of the Yatra,” the party said.

    The Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying while India faces challenges, he continues to “deny, distract and divide”.

    “His inflammatory rhetoric during the recent election campaigns in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh has further polarised the polity and society at a time when serious discussion and debate are needed,” it alleged.

    Kharge claimed Bharat Jodo Yatra has taken the form of a national movement, saying that it is scripting history under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

    “It is a movement that has called for a decisive war against the back-breaking inflation, unemployment, intolerable economic and social inequality, and the politics of hatred in the country,” he said The biggest success of this journey is that the Bharat Jodo Yatra has taken the form of a national mass movement, he said.

    He also said it is the duty of Congress persons to fight against ruling forces that sow “seeds of hatred” and “reap fruits of division”.

    This is our ‘rashtradharm’, he added.

    Besides Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel, general secretary in-charge organisation Venugopal, senior leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, Meira Kumar and Ambika Soni were among those who attended the meeting.

    Rahul Gandhi did not attend the meeting due to the Bharat Jodo Yatra which is set to enter Rajasthan on Sunday evening.

    Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also not present at the meeting.

  • Raipur Diary

    Express News Service

    BJP pins hope on women votersThe BJP Mahila Morcha organised ‘Mahtari Hunker Rally’ in an attempt to boost the prospect of the party against Congress and curry favour with the women, who constitute nearly 50 per cent of the voters in Chhattisgarh. Senior party leader Smriti Irani visiting the state cited ABC to put across her point…..’A’ for Amethi where she as the BJP Mahtari had won defeating Rahul Gandhi, ‘B’ for Bilaspur where amid the massive show of strength as the BJP roared with a challenge and now it’s the turn of ‘C’ for Chhattisgarh where the BJP will overthrow the Congress rule that allegedly failed to keep its promises. Mahtari means woman or mother.

    Siyan: Support beyond helplineThe need being aired to go beyond helpline ‘Siyan’ (urgent help during emergencies), that Bhupesh Baghel government has launched, by supporting senior citizens besides Divyang (disabled) and third gender with setting up of special police stations for them in every district on the lines of Scheduled Tribe/Schedule Caste. Senior lawyer and former chairman of MP textbook corporation Iqbal Ahmed Rizvi said it can be a value addition to the innovative step taken by the government to offer the much needed relief to such people who often had to struggle seeking justice and fair play. The Constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice, dignity of all individuals.

    Litmus test for Congress and BJPAhead of next year’s Assembly polls, the ST Bhanupratapur Assembly (Kanker district) by-poll slated for December 5 will turn out to be a litmus test for the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. Besides other claims on achievements by the government, the Congress may seek a possible advantage of sympathy factor. The BJP has geared-up to turn ST reservation as the key poll issue during the campaign in the seat with g predominant tribal population. Now the special session of the House will be held on December 1-2 to discuss and resolve the issue of tribal quota. 

    Ejaz KaiserOur correspondent in [email protected]

    BJP pins hope on women voters
    The BJP Mahila Morcha organised ‘Mahtari Hunker Rally’ in an attempt to boost the prospect of the party against Congress and curry favour with the women, who constitute nearly 50 per cent of the voters in Chhattisgarh. Senior party leader Smriti Irani visiting the state cited ABC to put across her point…..’A’ for Amethi where she as the BJP Mahtari had won defeating Rahul Gandhi, ‘B’ for Bilaspur where amid the massive show of strength as the BJP roared with a challenge and now it’s the turn of ‘C’ for Chhattisgarh where the BJP will overthrow the Congress rule that allegedly failed to keep its promises. Mahtari means woman or mother.

    Siyan: Support beyond helpline
    The need being aired to go beyond helpline ‘Siyan’ (urgent help during emergencies), that Bhupesh Baghel government has launched, by supporting senior citizens besides Divyang (disabled) and third gender with setting up of special police stations for them in every district on the lines of Scheduled Tribe/Schedule Caste. Senior lawyer and former chairman of MP textbook corporation Iqbal Ahmed Rizvi said it can be a value addition to the innovative step taken by the government to offer the much needed relief to such people who often had to struggle seeking justice and fair play. The Constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice, dignity of all individuals.

    Litmus test for Congress and BJP
    Ahead of next year’s Assembly polls, the ST Bhanupratapur Assembly (Kanker district) by-poll slated for December 5 will turn out to be a litmus test for the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. Besides other claims on achievements by the government, the Congress may seek a possible advantage of sympathy factor. The BJP has geared-up to turn ST reservation as the key poll issue during the campaign in the seat with g predominant tribal population. Now the special session of the House will be held on December 1-2 to discuss and resolve the issue of tribal quota. 

    Ejaz Kaiser
    Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh
    [email protected]

  • Golf resort near Raipur turns into fortress as Jharkhand ruling coalition MLAs check in

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Away from the bustling crowds of Raipur city, the Mayfair Golf Resort where MLAs of the ruling UPA coalition in Jharkhand are sequestered has turned into a fortress with police personnel deployed everywhere.

    The JMM-Congress-RJD coalition in Jharkhand on Tuesday flew its 32 MLAs to Raipur to prevent the BJP’s alleged attempts to poach its legislators.

    The MLAs, 15 from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and 17 from Congress, accompanied by senior Chhattisgarh Congress leaders Ramgopal Agrawal and Girish Dewangan, travelled in three buses to the luxurious resort located in Nava Raipur.

    While mediapersons are camping in the area in scorching heat in their quest for news and visuals, their entry is strictly barred inside.

    ALSO READ | Rift wide open in Jharkhand, Soren sends Rahul SOS

    All 40-odd rooms at the resort have been booked for the guests from Jharkhand for the next two days, Congress sources said.

    A video of an SUV with ‘Chhattisgarh government on duty’ written on it and carrying liquor bottles allegedly towards the resort went viral during the day, with opposition BJP slamming the Congress government in the state over it.

    ““Chhattisgarh is not a den of indulgence where you are serving liquor and chicken to Jharkhand MLAs from the money of the people of Chhattisgarh. After Assam and Haryana, MLAs of Jharkhand are stationed here. Chhattisgarh Mahtari (Mother Chhattisgarh) will never forgive you for this immoral act,”” BJP vice president and former chief minister Raman Singh tweeted in Hindi.

    Singh also posted the video.

    भूपेश जी कान खोलकर सुन लीजिए!छत्तीसगढ़ अय्याशी का अड्डा नहीं है, जो छत्तीसगढ़ियों के पैसे से झारखंड के विधायकों को दारू-मुर्गा खिला रहे हैं।असम, हरियाणा के बाद अब झारखंड के विधायको का डेरा, इन अनैतिक कार्यों के लिएछत्तीसगढ़ महतारी आपको कभी माफ नहीं करेगी। pic.twitter.com/rBxQl51esd
    — Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) August 30, 2022
    Head of the state Congress communication wing Sushil Anand Shukla questioned the authenticity of the video and said his party or the government had nothing to do with it.

    Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren did not accompany the UPA MLAs to Raipur, but some senior JMM leaders are with them, said local Congress sources.

    The tariff at the Mayfair Golf Resort was not available online, but the Mayfair Lake resort adjacent to it offers a room with discount starting at Rs 4,200 per day, an employee of a nearby hotel said.

    The sprawling golf resort is spread over 100 acres of land, he added.

    Earlier in June this year, amid fears of cross-voting in June 10 Rajya Sabha Polls, the main opposition Congress in Haryana had shifted its MLAs to the same resort.

    Before that, candidates of Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), an ally in the Congress-led grand alliance during the last year’s Assam Assembly polls, had been brought to Raipur in April 2021 ahead of counting of votes and stationed on the same premises.

    The ruling UPA coalition has 49 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.

    Soren’s JMM believes that the BJP may make a serious attempt to poach MLAs from it and from the Congress in a bid to topple the government.

    Following a petition by the BJP seeking Soren’s disqualification from the Assembly in an office of profit case, the Election Commission sent its decision to state Governor Ramesh Bais on August 25.

    Though the EC’s decision is not yet made public, there was a buzz that the poll panel had recommended the chief minister’s disqualification as an MLA.

    RAIPUR: Away from the bustling crowds of Raipur city, the Mayfair Golf Resort where MLAs of the ruling UPA coalition in Jharkhand are sequestered has turned into a fortress with police personnel deployed everywhere.

    The JMM-Congress-RJD coalition in Jharkhand on Tuesday flew its 32 MLAs to Raipur to prevent the BJP’s alleged attempts to poach its legislators.

    The MLAs, 15 from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and 17 from Congress, accompanied by senior Chhattisgarh Congress leaders Ramgopal Agrawal and Girish Dewangan, travelled in three buses to the luxurious resort located in Nava Raipur.

    While mediapersons are camping in the area in scorching heat in their quest for news and visuals, their entry is strictly barred inside.

    ALSO READ | Rift wide open in Jharkhand, Soren sends Rahul SOS

    All 40-odd rooms at the resort have been booked for the guests from Jharkhand for the next two days, Congress sources said.

    A video of an SUV with ‘Chhattisgarh government on duty’ written on it and carrying liquor bottles allegedly towards the resort went viral during the day, with opposition BJP slamming the Congress government in the state over it.

    ““Chhattisgarh is not a den of indulgence where you are serving liquor and chicken to Jharkhand MLAs from the money of the people of Chhattisgarh. After Assam and Haryana, MLAs of Jharkhand are stationed here. Chhattisgarh Mahtari (Mother Chhattisgarh) will never forgive you for this immoral act,”” BJP vice president and former chief minister Raman Singh tweeted in Hindi.

    Singh also posted the video.

    भूपेश जी कान खोलकर सुन लीजिए!
    छत्तीसगढ़ अय्याशी का अड्डा नहीं है, जो छत्तीसगढ़ियों के पैसे से झारखंड के विधायकों को दारू-मुर्गा खिला रहे हैं।
    असम, हरियाणा के बाद अब झारखंड के विधायको का डेरा, इन अनैतिक कार्यों के लिए
    छत्तीसगढ़ महतारी आपको कभी माफ नहीं करेगी। pic.twitter.com/rBxQl51esd
    — Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) August 30, 2022
    Head of the state Congress communication wing Sushil Anand Shukla questioned the authenticity of the video and said his party or the government had nothing to do with it.

    Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren did not accompany the UPA MLAs to Raipur, but some senior JMM leaders are with them, said local Congress sources.

    The tariff at the Mayfair Golf Resort was not available online, but the Mayfair Lake resort adjacent to it offers a room with discount starting at Rs 4,200 per day, an employee of a nearby hotel said.

    The sprawling golf resort is spread over 100 acres of land, he added.

    Earlier in June this year, amid fears of cross-voting in June 10 Rajya Sabha Polls, the main opposition Congress in Haryana had shifted its MLAs to the same resort.

    Before that, candidates of Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), an ally in the Congress-led grand alliance during the last year’s Assam Assembly polls, had been brought to Raipur in April 2021 ahead of counting of votes and stationed on the same premises.

    The ruling UPA coalition has 49 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.

    Soren’s JMM believes that the BJP may make a serious attempt to poach MLAs from it and from the Congress in a bid to topple the government.

    Following a petition by the BJP seeking Soren’s disqualification from the Assembly in an office of profit case, the Election Commission sent its decision to state Governor Ramesh Bais on August 25.

    Though the EC’s decision is not yet made public, there was a buzz that the poll panel had recommended the chief minister’s disqualification as an MLA.

  • Helicopter crash at Raipur airport; two pilots dead

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: In a tragic incident, Chhattisgarh state chopper Augusta Westland AW-109 crashed while landing on the runway at Swami Vivekanand Airport Raipur leaving both the pilot and co-pilot dead on Thursday night.

    Senior pilot Captain Gopal Kumar Panda and co-pilot Captain A P Shrivastava succumbed to critical injuries they sustained in the crash. Both the pilots were rushed to the private hospital where the doctors declared brought dead. There were no passengers on board.

    According to a preliminary information, the state helicopter was carrying out a night flying, while it crashed before landing, apparently owing to some technical snag on the runway. All departures/arrivals flights have been suspended at the airport.

    According to the eye-wtinesses, it was with great difficulty that both the pilots were taken out of the crashed chopper. While the senior pilot died on the spot, the co-pilot succumbed to his injuries while taken to a hospital. 

    Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed his grief. “In the tragic incident, both our pilots Captain Panda and Captain Srivastava have died. May God give enough strength to their family members and peace to the departed soul in this time of grief,@ he said in a tweet.

    The airport authorities were reluctant to give any statement over the incident. An officer at the airport not authorised to speak to the media said that it’s a matter of investigation since neither the weather condition nor the night landing facility at the airport can be blamed. “This is the first such incident that occurred during the night. The Director General Civil Aviation and the state government will probe into the incident,” he added.

  • Chhattisgarh: Naxals abduct 5 villagers, including schoolgirl in Sukma

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Five people from a village in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district were allegedly abducted by Naxals for unknown reasons, following which security forces launched a search operation, a police official said on Sunday.

    The incident took place in Bater village, located 18 kilometres inside the forest from Konta police station, which is around 400 km from state capital Raipur, he said.

    “As per preliminary information, a group of Naxals reached the village on Saturday evening and forcefully took five villagers, including a Class XII girl, along with them. After being alerted about the abduction this afternoon, security forces have started a search operation in the area,” Sukma Superintendent of Police Sunil Sharma told PTI.

    “It is not clear why they were abducted. Ultras also take villagers along with them sometimes for meetings. The Sarva Adivasi Samaj, an umbrella body of tribal communities in Bastar region, has appealed to the ultras to release the villagers,” he added.

    In July, Naxals had abducted eight villagers from Kunded under Jagargunda police station limits and released them two to three days later, Sharma said.

  • Barn owl entangled in kite-flying string rescued in Raipur

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: City police rescued a barn own that got itself entangled in the sharp kite-flying string (popularly known as manja) at the height of around 60 feet at station road in Narmadapara area.

    The string was coiled around one of its feathers in the evening hours of Wednesday leaving the bird suspended in air at the edge of a tree branch for nearly 12 hours in a helpless situation.

    Some passer-bys noticed the bird struggling to get detangled and called the emergency helpline number. Personnel from Ganj Thana police station reached the spot to rescue to the bird.

    “With the support of the locals, one of our men brought down the bird using a ladder to reach that height. The string was coiled quite a lot and it took us a long time to remove it,” said Vijay Kumar, police station in-charge.

    The barn owl had suffered a minor wound on its wing which was immediately cleaner. On offering the bird water, it was taken to the police station for further medical care.

    Wildlife experts believe that human interaction with the wild has limited in urban spaces. “Owing to such limitations, there is a decline in empathy and compassion towards wildlife. The benevolent acts of the police will set an example. The human beings have lived in harmony with the wildlife,” said Anupam Singh, a wildlife activist.

    Several youngsters took to flying kites during the lockdown in Raipur. The environmentalists have cautioned against the use of manja string as these pose a potential threat to birds.

  • Maoist with Rs 5 lakh bounty killed in a gunfight with security forces in Chhattisgarh

    By Express News Service
    RAIPUR: A senior cadre of the banned CPI (Maoist) was killed in a gunfight with the security forces at the forested terrain of Pordem in the strife-torn Dantewada, south Chhattisgarh, on Sunday.

    “There was an exchange of fire between the Dantewada district reserve guards (DRG) and the Maoists. The forces recovered a body of rebel identified as Santosh Markam, a Malangir Area Committee member who carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh for his capture”, said Abhishek Pallava, Dantewada district superintendent of police.

    Markam had around 25 crimes registered against him at Aranpur police station of the district, the SP added. There is however no report of any injuries sustained by the forces.

    A pistol, bags and items of daily use were also recovered from the encounter site.Dantewada is among the seven Maoists-affected districts in the conflict zone of Bastar.

  • Raipur diary: All that is happening at the ‘Rice bowl of India’

    Express News Service
    Chhattisgarh industries face shortage of iron ore

    Being the second-largest sponge iron producer in the country and the only state to make high-grade rails for the Railways, Chhattisgarh is facing an acute shortage of iron ore for its industries. The state produces 11.6 MTPA steel and 11.28 MTPA (25 per cent of India) sponge iron.

    “We are deeply concerned as over 89 per cent, which is 24 million tonnes, of iron ore produced by the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), the only commercial miner, is being exported outside the state, creating a huge scarcity,” said Pradeep Tandon, chairman, state council of FICCI. 

    16 senior Maoist leaders died of COVID-19 in 2 months

    Confirmation by the banned CPI (Maoist) of the death of two senior leaders due to the coronavirus infection, has corroborated the assertion of Bastar Police that the pandemic claimed the lives of over 16 senior rebels in the last two months.

    Bastar Range IG Sunderraj P has appealed to the Maoist cadres to shun violence, surrender, avail medical facilities and seek treatment for COVID-19 ailment. The pandemic situation in Maoist camps remains alarming.

    The Red ultras should accept the reality, the IG added. Most of the Maoist leaders and cadres have reportedly died in the proximity of the Minaguram-Jabagatta forest in the south Bijapur-Sukma region. Maoist leaders like Hidma, Vinod, Sonu, Jaiman, Nandu among others are reported to be down with the infection. 

    Support for 1.5 lakh amid second wave

    Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) has extended medical, awareness and livelihood support to over 1.5 lakh community members through various initiatives in the industrial town of Korba. The organisation has designed and implemented campaigns across villages on various do’s and don’ts and supported the administration with medicines, sanitisation drive and PPE kits.

    During the challenging time, it has set up a 100-bed hospital at Naya Raipur and generated livelihood opportunities through Vedanta skill school and project ‘Unnati’. 

    500 schools closed due to pandemic impact

    Private schools in Chhattisgarh are the worst hit by the pandemic impact. As many as 500 schools have already been shut down in the state and many others are on the brink of closure as they are unable to sustain the expenses.

    The biggest concern is the fate of one lakh students who were admitted in these schools from Class 1 to 8 under the Right to Education (RTE). According to Rajiv Gupta, president of the Private School Association, there are around 500 private schools that were shut down owing to financial constraints and lack of enough admissions.

  • Shops will now open in Raipur on Sundays, on other days all shops will open till 8 pm

    Most of the districts of the state have been unlocked after the pace of corona infection stopped. However, the administration has definitely set some restrictions. Meanwhile, Raipur district administration has issued a new guideline for unlocking.
    According to the issued instructions, now all the shops in Raipur will open till 8 pm. At the same time, the administration has given permission to open shops on Sunday as well. The district administration has issued an order in this regard.
    In Chhattisgarh yesterday, 317 new corona infected patients were found and 605 patients were cured. On the other hand, 8 patients died during treatment in 24 hours. After this, the total death toll in the state has gone up to 13415.
    Now the total number of infected people in the state has increased to 9 lakh 92 thousand 391. So far 9 lakh 71 thousand 662 patients have become healthy in Chhattisgarh. After getting new patients and getting discharged, now the number of active patients has increased to 7,314.