C'garh Assembly adjourned after tributes to departed leaders

The first day of the monsoon session of the Chhattsigarh Assembly was adjourned Friday after MLAs paid tributes to departed leaders. Speaker Charandas Mahant led the legislators in paying tribute to former MLAs Santosh Kumar Agrawal and Balram Singh Thakur, and slain Dantewada MLA Bhima Mandavi.

Mahant said Agrawal was elected from Mahasamund Assembly seat in undivided Madhya Pradesh and had great interest in social and religious fields. Mandavi emerged as a strong leader through his struggle and work for the tribal population in Dantewada district, he said.

Mandavi was killed in a Naxal attack on April 9 this year near Shyamgiri village in Dantewada. Thakur was elected to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Assemblies from Takhatpur and was also Mayor of Bilaspur twice.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his predecessor Raman Singh and Leader of the Opposition Dhamarlal Kaushik also invoked the contribution of the departed leaders. The House paid tribute to Bindeshari Devi Baghel, mother of CM Baghel, and to security personnel who had laid down their lives in Naxal violence.

The House observed two-minute silence after which Mahant adjourned the House for the day..