RaipurOn the final day of the monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly, the atmosphere turned tense as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) brought forth a motion of no-confidence against the ruling party, leading to an intense debate that spanned almost 12 hours. The proceedings in the House were marked by frequent disruptions due to heated arguments between the ruling party and the opposition.Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel addressed the Assembly, but was disrupted by opposition legislators creating a ruckus, and some of them even staging a walkout. As a result of the opposition’s departure, the Speaker of the Assembly, Dr Charnadas Mahant, ultimately rejected the no-confidence motion.However, prior to this, opposition leader Narayan Chandel launched scathing accusations against the current administration, asserting that politics had been criminalized, and the sand mafia was operating under the government’s protection. He also alleged that ruling party workers were threatening farmers and recounted an incident of an officer from the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) assaulting a farmer in a police station. Moreover, Chandel highlighted the heartbreaking case of a hunger-driven suicide of the adopted ‘Son of the President’ in Jashpur, which further eroded public trust in the government. Additionally, the opposition leader expressed concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in various areas, mentioning instances of murders in police stations, including Bango and Bairak.In response to the BJP’s accusations, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel vehemently refuted the claims, stating that out of the 109 allegations made against him, no concrete evidence was presented. He accused the opposition of resorting to a no-confidence motion as a last-ditch effort to discredit his government. The Chief Minister also stressed that the issue of Naxalism, once a major concern, has now transformed into an achievement for his administration. He highlighted the positive developments in Bastar, where roadblocks have been eliminated, schools reopened, and rations are being distributed efficiently.Baghel emphasized the importance of empowering the youth and ensuring their education and well-being, leading to significant transformations in the lives of farmers and women. He proudly mentioned that children in the region now speak fluent English. The Chief Minister also cited a substantial subsidy of 20,000 crores provided to farmers by his government.Furthermore, Baghel expressed his frustration at being unable to conduct a thorough investigation into the Zheeram incident due to hindrances created by the state government. He alleged that the central government’s plan to extract gas from coal had faced numerous obstacles, leading to the intervention of multiple agencies.As the no-confidence motion debate came to an end, the Assembly remained divided, with both the ruling party and the opposition standing firm in their stances.
