30 Congress MLAs suspended for day after uproar over DAP fertiliser crisis
Bhupesh Baghel
, were suspended for the day following a ruckus over the shortage of DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertilizer in the state.
The suspension came after the Opposition MLAs trooped into the well of the House and disrupted proceedings, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House twice.
The fourth day of the monsoon session in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Thursday saw commotion during the Question Hour, when Congress MLA and former minister Umesh Patel raised a pointed query to agriculture minister Ramvichar Netam, about the availability and distribution of DAP fertilizer.
Patel asked him to clarify the total demand, supply status, and the proportion allocated to cooperative societies versus private dealers.
Patel alleged that the state was facing an acute shortage and that less than 50 percent of the targeted supply had been made available to farmers so far.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Ramvichar Netam acknowledged the shortfall, stating that for the current 2025 Kharif season, the Centre had set a target of 3.10 lakh metric tonnes of DAP for Chhattisgarh.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better
Grammarly
Install Now
Undo
"Of the 2.19 lakh metric tonnes approved by the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers between April and June, only 1.08 lakh metric tonnes had been received till June 30. Including the carryover stock of 40,746 metric tonnes from the previous Rabi season, the state had stored a total of 1.48 lakh metric tonnes so far," he said.
The minister conceded that the supply was insufficient and said the state was promoting the use of alternative phosphatic fertilizers and nano DAP to mitigate the impact on farmers.
He added that continuous coordination was underway with the central government and fertilizer suppliers to expedite delivery.
Netam informed the House that an additional 18,885 metric tonnes of DAP would be supplied by July 20, with 718 metric tonnes arriving on Thursday itself in Kharsia — Umesh Patel's constituency. He further clarified that 64 percent of the available DAP had been distributed through cooperative societies and 36 percent through private dealers.
However, Congress legislators including Bhupesh Baghel and others, accused the government of favouring the private sector and enabling black marketing. They alleged that shopkeepers were selling DAP at inflated prices due to inadequate supply in cooperatives, leaving farmers in distress.
'Modi's Name Sparks Fire': Protest Escalates, Congress Enters Well
The situation intensified when Minister Netam invoked the Prime Minister's name while defending supply challenges.
Congress legislators, led by Leader of Opposition Dr. Charan Das Mahant, former CM Bhupesh Baghel, and Umesh Patel, accused the government of deflecting responsibility and began sloganeering: "DAP must be supplied to farmers," "Anti-farmer government won't be tolerated," "Agriculture Minister must resign.
"
Unsatisfied with the minister's response, the Congress MLAs erupted in protest, raising slogans and trooping into the well of the House.
The resulting chaos forced Speaker Dr Raman Singh to adjourn the proceedings for five minutes. When the House resumed, the Congress members continued their protest and refused to return to their seats, they carried out a sit-in protest and continued raising slogans despite that the Question Hour continued.
This prompted Speaker Raman Singh to announce their suspension.
Despite the Speaker's repeated appeals, the suspended MLAs remained in the well and continued sloganeering, further disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing his displeasure, the Speaker said, "This kind of behaviour has no place in a parliamentary democracy. This is a direct attack on the sanctity of parliamentary traditions. Despite three appeals, the Members continued to disrupt proceedings. Such behaviour has never been seen in this House in the past 25 year. Despite multiple requests, the members not only violated the House's decorum but disregarded its long-standing traditions.
I am deeply pained by their actions."
All 30 protesting Congress MLAs were suspended for the remainder of the day.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kedar Kashyap alleged that former CM Bhupesh Baghel incited his party members to disrupt the House and accused the Congress of intentionally derailing the session for political gains.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
UPCAR Celebrates 36th Foundation Day with National Symposium on Vision 2047 Agriculture
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Research Council (UPCAR) celebrated its 36th Foundation Day with a high-profile National Symposium held at the Indian Sugarcane Research Institute (ISRI), Rae Bareli Road, Lucknow. The event, co-hosted by UPCAR and ISRI, focused on laying a comprehensive roadmap for "Developed Agriculture–Developed Uttar Pradesh @ 2047." Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the chief guest, inaugurated the symposium and extended best wishes to UPCAR on its anniversary. He applauded the council's achievements over the past 35 years and emphasized the transformative potential of agriculture in Uttar Pradesh. Highlighting the state's contribution—producing 20% of the country's food grains on just 11% of its arable land—he called for tripling agricultural output through enhanced research outreach and advanced technology adoption. The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of planning for the short, medium, and long term to achieve the Vision 2047 objectives. He cited the expansion of Centers of Excellence (including Israeli collaborations), climate-resilient farming methods, and improved seed quality as critical pillars. Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi underscored the historic achievement of producing 725 lakh metric tonnes of food grains during the 2024–25 Kharif season. He highlighted initiatives like the Accelerated Maize Programme and cow-based natural farming projects. A five-member expert committee has been established to enhance the operational efficiency of UPCAR. Council President Captain Vikas Gupta welcomed dignitaries and advocated for statutory recognition of UPCAR to amplify its impact. The technical session, chaired by Chief Secretary Rabindra and co-chaired by Dr. A.K. Singh, DDG, ICAR, featured expert discussions on regional agricultural prospects, natural farming, FPO models, horticulture, and sustainable agriculture. Young scientists recognized for their outstanding work included Dr. Rajendra Kumar Yadav (Kanpur), Dr. Rahul Kumar Singh (Varanasi), and several scholars from Ayodhya, Meerut, and Gorakhpur. Additionally, five meritorious workers were honored, and UPCAR's latest literature was released. The event saw participation from state ministers, research scientists, university chancellors, and FPO representatives, reinforcing the state's commitment to agricultural advancement.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
Alampur 100-Beds Government Hospital to Open from Tomorrow
Gadwal: In a major boost to public healthcare in the Alampur region, the 100-bed government hospital — a long-pending demand of the local population — is finally set to commence operations from Wednesday, July 23. This development comes through the determined efforts of Dr. SA Sampath Kumar, former Alampur MLA and All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary. The hospital, which was sanctioned and constructed during Dr. Sampath Kumar's previous tenure as MLA, had remained non-functional for several years. Despite the completion of the building, the previous BRS-led administration failed to appoint staff or provide medical facilities, drawing sharp criticism from the public. Though the BRS leadership hastily inaugurated the hospital just before the general elections, it lacked even basic medical personnel. As a result, the facility remained idle, becoming symbolic of political tokenism rather than functional development. Following the formation of the Congress government under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Dr. Sampath Kumar took personal interest in the revival of the hospital. He conducted site inspections, held discussions with health officials, and ensured the appointment of doctors, nurses, and support staff. His proactive measures have made it possible for the hospital to officially begin offering services to the public from tomorrow. Dr. Sampath Kumar emphasized that the people of Alampur deserve dignified and accessible healthcare, and called upon residents to make full use of the services provided. He reiterated the Congress government's commitment to strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure across the state. Local citizens have welcomed the move with gratitude, expressing hope that the hospital will now function efficiently and provide much-needed relief, especially during emergencies and seasonal illnesses. This hospital's revival is seen not just as a healthcare milestone, but also as a reflection of the Congress party's renewed focus on grassroots development.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Panchapeeta backing for Vijayendra could complicate tussle in BJP
Bengaluru: Two major political developments — one in the Supreme Court and the other in a religious sphere — have complicated ongoing debates around change at the helm in both governing Congress and opposition BJP in Karnataka. In a significant reprieve for chief minister Siddaramaiah, the Supreme Court upheld the Karnataka high court's decision to quash an Enforcement Directorate notice to his wife in the Muda case. The verdict arrives at a time when murmurs within Congress suggest an informal agreement that the CM's post should be handed over to deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar after 30 months — which concludes this Nov. Although Siddaramaiah has publicly insisted that he will serve out a full five-year term, his detractors were reportedly banking on the Muda case to press for a reshuffle. The Supreme Court ruling, however, has momentarily disarmed their argument. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "There were constant efforts to challenge Siddaramaiah's leadership in the backdrop of the Muda case, despite allegations against him being baseless," said BJ Vijayakumar, president, Congress' Mysuru City unit. "With the Supreme Court ruling against ED's notice, these efforts have hit a wall. It is now certain that Siddaramaiah will continue in his position without hindrance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo His leadership is needed to ensure the govt's stability. " AS Ponnanna, Madikeri MLA and legal adviser to the CM, also took aim at the CM's political opponents. "Our consistent stand that the Muda case is politically motivated and that central agencies were being used as a tool by a desperate BJP-JD(S) combine stands vindicated," he said. "In its verdict, the Supreme Court also said central agencies must not be used for political gain. We hope better sense prevails from here on. " In BJP, state president BY Vijayendra, who is battling dissent from senior party functionaries, received a shot in the arm from the influential Panchapeetas — five key Veerashaiva-Lingayat religious institutions. At a congregation in Davanagere, the pontiffs of Ujjaini, Kedar, Rambhapuri, Srishaila, and Kashi Mutts publicly extended support to Vijayendra. "Although BS Yediyurappa became CM four times, he could not stay at the helm for a five-year term even once," said Veera Someswara Deshikendra Shivacharya, pontiff of Balehonnur Rambhapuri Mutt. "Vijayendra has emerged as a ray of hope. He has a bright future, and BJP will be stronger under his leadership." Vijayendra loyalists say the endorsement from these mutts will help blunt internal discord. "There is no doubt that the party high command is convinced about Vijayendra's potential," said Shalendra Bilidale, Bidar South MLA. "While vested interests are trying to spread canards, the blessings of the Panchapeeta pontiffs show he has strong backing, especially at the event in Davanagere where adversaries tried to create trouble. We are hopeful that an announcement on Vijayendra's continuance will come soon."
