Congress Accuses Chhattisgarh Government of Using Force Against Hasdeo Protesters, Questions Financial Irregularities
Raipur
The Congress party has strongly criticized the Chhattisgarh government, accusing the police of using excessive force against tribal protesters demonstrating against the cutting of trees in the Hasdeo Aranya region. State Congress President Deepak Baij claimed that one protester suffered a head injury after being struck by a police lathi, leaving him bleeding. Baij directed sharp questions at Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, asking, “On whose orders were the police instructed to charge at the tribals? Do you have no compassion, despite being a tribal Chief Minister and tribal Minister?”
Baij reaffirmed the Congress party’s consistent stance on Hasdeo, recalling that during its time in power, the Congress had passed a private member resolution bill in the assembly, urging the central government to cancel coal block allocations in the Hasdeo region. “The Congress stands firmly with the tribals in this fight,” he asserted.
The Congress leader also revisited the Lahridih violence and arson case, in which three people were killed. Baij raised serious questions about the delay in justice, specifically why the Chhattisgarh police had not yet apprehended the suspects involved in the murder of Kachru Sahu. Sahu’s body was found hanging near the Madhya Pradesh border, and Baij expressed gratitude to Sahu’s daughter for standing up to demand justice, accusing the police of trying to suppress the case. He further argued that if the police had conducted a fair investigation, the deaths of Raghunath Sahu and Prashant Sahu, who died in custody, might have been avoided.
In a broader attack on the BJP-led state government, Baij accused the administration of attempting to cover up various crimes. He cited the Kawardha incident, where three members of a Baiga family perished. Baij alleged that the administration concealed the truth for 45 days by claiming it was an accidental fire, when, in reality, the family had been murdered.
Beyond law and order, Baij also raised concerns about the state government’s financial management and potential corruption. He questioned how the Chhattisgarh government utilized a massive ₹32,000 crore loan, pointing out that despite this loan, many contractual works in the state had come to a halt. He specifically targeted former IAS officer-turned-politician OP Choudhari, questioning the allocation and use of the budget.
In a viral video that further fueled controversy, BJYM Block President Akash Solanki was seen displaying large sums of money. Baij sarcastically questioned the origins of Solanki’s wealth, asking if it was due to “commission or loot.” He demanded an official probe into the matter and urged the government to involve the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). In response to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai dismissing the video as fake, Baij mockingly suggested that the CM “change the number on his spectacles” to see the situation more clearly. He also expressed skepticism about whether agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would investigate the incident, implying doubts about the government’s willingness to pursue the truth.
The Congress president called for accountability on multiple fronts, accusing the state government of failing to ensure transparency and justice in crucial issues affecting the people of Chhattisgarh.
