30 Congress MLAs suspended from Chhattisgarh Assembly for a day for ruckus over DAP fertilizer supply

The Hindu

17-07-2025

Thirty Congress members were suspended from the Chhattisgarh legislative Assembly for a day on Thursday (July 17, 2025) after they created an uproar, accusing the state government of failing to ensure an adequate supply of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer.
Due to the pandemonium during the discussion on the issue, the Speaker had to adjourn the House twice.
Raising the issue in the Question Hour, senior Congress MLA Umesh Patel asked about the demand for DAP and its supply in the state. He also asked whether there is a shortage of this fertilizer.
In his reply, State Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam said that in the kharif crop season 2025, a target of 3,10,000 metric tonnes of DAP has been set by the Centre for the state.
A supply plan of 2,19,100 MT has been issued by the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers from April to June 2025, against which 1,08,155 MT has been supplied till June 30, he said.
A total of 1,48,900 MT has been stored, including the savings stock of 40,746 MT, of the previous season (rabi 2024-25), he said.
The Minister said that in the current kharif season, a shortage in the supply of DAP is being reflected against the supply plan issued till June 30.
Keeping this in view, alternative phosphatic fertilizers are being stored for farmers and it is being promoted for use among them, he added.
Mr. Patel further claimed that so far, not up to 50% of the total demand has been supplied, and asked about the quantities given to the cooperative societies and to the private sector.
The Minister said, the departments concerned are in constant coordination with the central government to ensure the supply of DAP.
Till July 20, a total of 18,885 MT of the fertilizer will again be supplied to the state. On Thursday, 718 MT of it will reach Kharsia (the constituency represented by Umesh Patel), he said.
It is correct that there is a shortage of DAP in the state and the same condition persists even in the entire country due to global reasons. Keeping the same in view, nano DAP fertilizer is being promoted, he added.
Netam said, of the total DAP stock, 64% has been given to the cooperative sector and the remaining 36% to the private sector.
However, Congress members claimed that the fertilizer is available in the private sector and shopkeepers have been black marketing it and selling it at high prices taking advantage of the shortage in the cooperative societies.
Dissatisfied with the Minister's reply, the opposition members created an uproar. Amid pandemonium, the House was adjourned for five minutes.
After the business resumed, Congress members again raised the issue. Shouting slogans against the government, they trooped into the well of the House and were automatically suspended.
Speaker Raman Singh announced the suspension of 30 Congress MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and asked them to go outside the House.
However, Congress members remained in the well and continued sloganeering.
The total strength of the Congress in the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly is 35.
Later, the Speaker again adjourned the House. After the proceedings resumed, the Speaker expressed displeasure and said even after his repeated requests to go outside the House, the suspended opposition MLAs violated the rules and remained in the well.
Singh said he was pained by their act and suspended them from the House for the day.