Raipur
The Congress will organise a “Kisan, Jawan, Samvidhan” (Farmer, Soldier, Constitution) rally at Science College ground in Raipur on July 7. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal will address the gathering.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and Chhattisgarh in-charge Sachin Pilot announced this during a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan.
BJP government failing on all fronts: Pilot
Sachin Pilot stated that the BJP government has failed on all fronts. He said the Sai government has taken a loan of over ₹37,000 crore in one-and-a-half years, even after discontinuing more than 17 public welfare schemes.
Pilot criticised the deteriorating law and order situation, citing incidents such as the burning of an SP-Collector office, rise in murders, rapes, robberies, and deaths in police custody. He added that the government has not fulfilled its promises to farmers.
Unemployment rises in Chhattisgarh
Pilot highlighted the rise in unemployment in the state. He claimed that under the previous Congress government, the unemployment rate was 0 per cent. The BJP had promised to provide 1 lakh jobs in five years, which translates to 21,000 jobs annually. However, the BJP government has not initiated any government recruitment in the past one-and-a-half years. He pointed out that 33,000 teaching posts are vacant, and the government has not issued recruitment notices. The Bastar Junior Selection Board has also been effectively shut down.
Law and order situation worsens
Pilot said that Chhattisgarh is experiencing a period of corruption and misgovernance. He claimed that the Sai government’s “good governance” is nowhere to be seen, with the law and order situation worsening. He mentioned the burning of the SP-Collector office, a new record in murders, and the beginning of mob lynchings in the state, including the killing of two people in Arang.
He added that six shooting incidents have occurred in the capital, cow smuggling has begun, and crimes against women have increased, citing incidents like a child dying in a Pota Cabin fire, a minor girl becoming a mother, and molestation of young girls in a school in Narayanpur. Incidents of rape, gang rape, looting, crime, dacoity, and stabbings have also risen. Pilot stated that criminals are unrestrained, and Naxal incidents have increased, with the government making no declared Naxal policy in one-and-a-half years, limiting itself to statements.
Pilot alleged that sand prices have tripled due to collusion between BJP leaders and sand mafias, leading to daily violence in the sand trade.
Acute shortage of fertilisers, seeds
Pilot said that with the monsoon arriving, Kharif sowing is affected by a shortage of fertilisers and seeds. He criticised the “double-engine” BJP government for neglecting the state’s farmers. He said that while monsoon has arrived in Bastar and Kharif sowing preparations are in full swing across the state, the government has failed to ensure adequate supply of fertilisers and seeds.
Farmers are struggling with a shortage of DAP in most societies, and many places lack seeds for sowing and transplantation. Pilot mentioned that farmers were initially told that NPK would be provided in place of DAP, but now there is a shortage of NPK as well. He stated that the state requires 3 lakh metric tonnes of DAP, but the government has only supplied 80,000 metric tonnes to societies.
BJP government promoting illegal liquor sales
Pilot alleged that Chhattisgarh has become a hub for illegal liquor sales under the BJP government, with alcohol being sold at paan shops and grocery stores. He claimed the Sai government is facilitating liquor sales in lanes and localities, with illegal holograms being used across liquor shops. He pointed out an instance of liquor being sold at a grocery store in the capital, adding that similar situations exist across the state.
Pilot questioned the BJP’s silence on liquor prohibition, which they vocally advocated while in opposition. He stated that the Sai government’s decisions, such as approving “preferred apps” and opening 67 new liquor shops, prove that the BJP’s protests for prohibition were merely “political hypocrisy.” He concluded that BJP leaders are focused on “commission-seeking and corruption” and are conspiring to push the state into addiction.
Sand mafia rampant under government patronage
Pilot alleged that sand mafia activity is increasing daily in the state, with incidents of shootings, assaults on mining department officials, public beatings of complainants, police constables being crushed by tractors, and attacks on journalists. He cited a recent incident in Dhamtari where a JCB driver was stabbed for attempting to stop illegal mining. Pilot claimed such incidents cannot occur without government patronage, asserting that ruling party leaders are protecting the mining mafia.
10,463 schools to be closed under rationalisation
Pilot criticised the government’s “rationalisation” process in the education department, calling it anti-employment and anti-education. He claimed that this process would eliminate over 45,000 teaching posts and directly close 10,463 schools. He added that the new setup reduces the minimum number of teaching posts in schools, eliminating thousands of positions.
Pilot recalled that during the Raman Singh government, over 3,300 schools were closed, and 12,000 teaching posts were eliminated. He stated that currently, primary schools in Chhattisgarh have one teacher for every 21 students, and this ratio is being increased to 30 students per teacher. Similarly, in middle schools, the ratio of 26 students per teacher is being raised to 35 students per teacher, which will eliminate one-third of teaching posts.
Pilot alleged that the Sai government is undertaking rationalisation to avoid new teacher recruitments and is conspiring to ruin the government education system. He said this decision would most severely affect children studying in tribal areas of Bastar and Surguja.
Unannounced power cuts, increased electricity tariffs
Pilot stated that under the Congress government, Chhattisgarh was a power-surplus state with 23 hours of electricity supply and a “half electricity bill” facility. He claimed that since the BJP government came to power, the state has experienced unannounced power cuts, and electricity tariffs have been increased multiple times in 17 months.
Pilot concluded by stating that the BJP government is harassing Congress leaders to hide its failures, and the party will fight back resolutely.
Dignitaries present
The press conference was attended by State Congress President Deepak Baij, AICC General Secretary and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Leader of Opposition Dr. Charandas Mahant, former Deputy Chief Minister TS Singhdeo, former presidents Dhanendra Sahu and Mohan Markam, In-charge Secretaries Jarita Laitphlang and Vijay Jangid, Rajya Sabha MP Phulodevi Netam, former ministers Tamradhwaj Sahu, Amarjeet Bhagat, Umesh Patel, and Jaisingh Agrawal, Congress Communication Department President Sushil Anand Shukla, MLAs Devendra Yadav and Vikas Upadhyay, MLA Atal Srivastava, Girish Dewangan, Akash Sharma, and other senior Congress leaders.
