30 Congress MLAs suspended for a day amid uproar over DAP fertilizer shortage in Chhattisgarh Assembly

Time of India

17-07-2025

RAIPUR:
The
Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly
witnessed high drama on Thursday as 30 Congress MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant and former Chief Minister
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.
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'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.