Opposition accuses Chhattisgarh govt for 'misusing' police to target party workers

Opposition MLAs Monday protested in the Chhattisgarh Assembly accusing the Bhupesh Baghel government of "misusing" police to "target" their leaders and workers. BJP and Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) MLAs sought a discussion through an adjournment motion notice which was rejected by the Assembly speaker.

Raising the issue after Question Hour, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Dharamlal Kaushik alleged that the Congress government was deliberately targeting opposition leaders and trying to create an atmosphere of fear and terror in the state. "After the formation of new government in the state, BJP leaders and worker are being threatened with jail and are being implicated in false cases," Kaushik said.

He urged the Speaker to accept their notice for adjournment motion and allow discussion on the issue. Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) MLA Dharmjeet Singh said the Congress had got a mandate to carry out welfare works and not to target leaders of opposition parties.

He mentioned the Antagarh bypoll audio tape row and said JCC(J) leaders were being targeted unnecessarily. BJP Legislators Brijmohan Agrawal, Ajay Chandrakar, Shivratan Sharma and others alleged that in Sukma, Korba, Kawardha and Gariyaband districts, the police was implicating party workers under false charges.

After Speaker Charandas Mahant rejected the notice of adjournment motion, several MLAs from the opposition ranks indulged in sloganeering, following which the House was adjourned for five minutes. After the House resumed, Congress MLA Satyanarayan Sharma, who was on the Chair, said, if necessary, the state government would make a statement on it on Tuesday.

Following an uproar, the House has adjourned again till 3 pm. After the House resumed, 15 protesting BJP and JCC(J) MLAs entered the Well of the House and got suspended. The suspension was revoked before the House was adjourned for the day.

(With inputs from agencies.)