Raipur: The winter session of Chhattisgarh’s Sixth Assembly began with significant tension, evident during the first day’s question hour and subsequent discussions.
On Monday, BJP MLA Shushant Shukla highlighted illegal encroachments on government land, questioning the government’s corrective measures. He claimed that over 13,273 encroachments occurred during the Congress administration and demanded to know the identities of the encroachers, including companies and groups, as well as the actions taken against complicit officials. Shukla called for an impartial investigation.
In response, Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma stated that actions would be taken based on credible evidence from ongoing investigations. Shukla criticized the government’s track record on land issues, noting that many families suffered due to Bhoomi Puran (land scam) during Congress’s last five years in power.
Minister Verma reported 563 complaints about illegal encroachments and constructions in Bilaspur district from 2021 until November 25, 2024, asserting that no land ownership documents (pattas) were issued under their government and that all misallocated pattas would be investigated. Despite this, Shukla expressed dissatisfaction, demanding stricter action against implicated officials.
During the motion for attention, a chaotic scene unfolded as opposition members were unsatisfied with Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dayal Das Baghel’s responses. Leader of Opposition CD Mahant accused the government of corruption in paddy sack procurement, alleging that jute bags from Gauri Shankar Jute Mill were underweight, falling short of the standard 580 grams.
He called for an investigation and a complaint to the jute commissioner, arguing that the government’s purchase of substandard jute sacks amounted to a scam of several crores, given their target of procuring 160 million metric tons of paddy.
The Minister rejected the allegations, prompting Congress members to walk out. As the session continues through December 20, further contentious debates are anticipated, with the Congress party poised to challenge the government on issues like the liquor app, paddy procurement, law and order, and allegations of irregularities.
Tributes were paid in the Chhattisgarh Assembly to former Rajya Sabha MP Gopal Vyas and former MLA Nandaram Sori. The Speaker, Dr. Raman Singh, also welcomed newly elected MLA Sunil Soni from Raipur South.
