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Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
30 Congress MLAs suspended for day after uproar over DAP fertiliser crisis
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. 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.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
30 Congress MLAs suspended for a day amid uproar over DAP fertilizer shortage in Chhattisgarh Assembly
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Compare Spreads: Bitcoin vs Ethereum CFDs IC Markets Learn More 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.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
8.2cr tendu leaf bonus embezzled by forest officials: LoP tells guv of ‘scam'
Raipur: Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh legislative assembly, Dr Charan Das Mahant has alleged a massive financial scam, amounting to Rs 8.2 crore, in the distribution of tendu leaf bonus payments meant for tribal collectors in the Sukma district forest division . Mahant has demanded immediate punitive and corrective action against the forest department officials involved in embezzeling the money, calling the state govt's inaction 'deeply disappointing.' In a letter addressed to Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka , Mahant stated that 67,732 tribal families—registered tendu leaf collectors in Scheduled Area Sukma—were supposed to receive a combined bonus of Rs 8,21,89,273 for the years 2021 and 2022. This bonus, amounting to Rs 4.51 crore for 2021 and Rs 3.70 crore for 2022, was sent to the division forest officer (DFO) of Sukma to be disbursed in cash during 2023–24. "Despite the funds being allocated, no distribution took place. Instead, a coordinated criminal conspiracy was carried out by officials of the forest department, where managers of 25 Primary Minor Forest Produce Cooperatives, embezzled the entire amount," he alleged. He added that the forest department later claimed that 100% of the bonus had been distributed, and this false claim was even presented on the floor of the Legislative Assembly during the Feb-March 2025 Budget Session by the forest minister. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scarlett Johansson Shows Off Her Jaw-Dropping Figure - See Photos 33 Bridges Mahant credits Congress party workers' vigilance for exposing the fraud. Their complaints led to preliminary investigations, raids, and the suspension and arrest of one forest official recently. Mahant has made the some key demands including full bonus amount of Rs 8.21 crore should be re-issued and disbursed to the eligible collectors on a priority basis. He further asked that all officials involved in the embezzlement—including forest officers, cooperative society managers, and nodal officials—should be suspended, arrested under IPC 2023 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, and face disciplinary action. "Bonus distribution records in other divisions must be audited by independent departments, not the forest department itself," Mahant demanded, adding that some of the poorest tribal families were robbed.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Massive Rs 8.2 cr tendu leaf bonus ‘scam' in Sukma, alleges Chhattisgarh LOP Mahant in letter to Governor
RAIPUR: Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh legislative assembly, Dr Charan Das Mahant has alleged a massive financial scam in the distribution of tendu leaf bonus payments meant for tribal collectors in the Sukma district forest division . Mahant has demanded immediate punitive and corrective action against the officials involved, calling the state government's inaction 'deeply disappointing.' In a letter addressed to Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka , Mahant stated that 67,732 tribal families—registered tendu leaf collectors in Scheduled Area Sukma—were supposed to receive a combined bonus of Rs 8,21,89,273 for the years 2021 and 2022. This bonus, amounting to Rs 4.51 crore for 2021 and Rs 3.70 crore for 2022, was sent to the Division Forest Officer (DFO) of Sukma to be disbursed in cash during the 2023–24 financial year. 'Despite the funds being allocated, no distribution took place. Instead, a coordinated criminal conspiracy was carried out by officials of the forest department, managers of 25 Primary Minor Forest Produce Cooperatives, and the DFO to embezzle the entire amount,' Mahant alleged. He added that the forest department later claimed that 100% of the bonus had been distributed, and this false claim was even presented on the floor of the Legislative Assembly during the February-March 2025 Budget Session by the Forest Minister. Mahant has questioned how such blatant misinformation could be allowed to stand unchallenged. Mahant credits Congress party workers' vigilance for exposing the fraud. Their complaints led to preliminary investigations, raids, and the suspension and arrest of one forest official recently. Mahant has made the some key demands including full bonus amount of Rs 8.21 crore should be re-issued by the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation and disbursed to the eligible collectors on a priority basis. He further asked that all officials involved in the embezzlement—including forest officers, cooperative society managers, and nodal officials—should be suspended, arrested under IPC 2023 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, and face disciplinary action. 'Action must be taken against those who provided false information to the Legislative Assembly. Officials responsible for tendu collection in 2025—the same individuals implicated in the scam—must be immediately removed. Bonus distribution records in other divisions must be audited by independent departments, not the forest department itself,' Mahant demanded. 'This is not just about money. It is about robbing the poorest tribal families of their rightful due, in a state led by a tribal Chief Minister,' Mahant wrote.
