The main Opposition party in Chhattisgarh, the Congress on Monday tried to gherao Chhattisgarh Assembly building in protest of denial of bonus to paddy farmers in the state and to demand higher MSP for their produce.
Thousands of Congress workers led by state Congress chief Bupesh Baghel marched towards the assembly building as a part of the culmination of its Kisan Majdoor Nyay Yatra, launched by the party on March 11 from Balodabajar district of the State in protest of “anti-farmer and anti-worker,” policies of Raman Singh government.
However, the police stopped the Congress workers near gate number 3 of Chhattisgarh Assembly.
Some Congress workers were injured when the police resorted to lathi-charge to stop Congress workers from entering into assembly premises.
“We were carrying out a peaceful protest but the police inhumanly lathi-charged our workers, many of them were severely injured. But we won’t budge until farmers and labourers of the State get justice ,” informed Bupesh Baghel while announcing that his party would call “Chhattisgarh Bandh” on March 18 in protest of police lathi-charge over Congress workers.
However, police claimed that only “mild” force was used to control the protesters and over 800 Congress workers were arrested and released after three hours.
Congress MLAs continued their protest against the alleged multi-crore scam in State Civil Supplies Department (CSD) inside the Assembly and demanded resignation of food minister Pannulal Mohile.
The party MLAs staged walkout from the assembly and also staged “dharna” outside the Assembly building.
