Congress to gherao Chhattisgarh Assembly on Monday

RAIPUR: The main Opposition Congress will gherao the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha tomorrow for raising their demands regarding various issues, particularly those of farmers and labourers.

"We will gherao the state Assembly in support of our various demands, including Rs 2,100 support price for paddy procurement, Rs 300 bonus to farmers against their paddy, CBI probe into civil supply scam and creation of jobs under MGNREGA," state Congress unit chief Bhupesh Baghel said today.

Baghel, who is leading the 'Kisan Mazdoor Nyay Yatra', started from Baloda Bazar district on March 11, said that the foot march will culminate with the gherao of the Legislative Assembly tomorrow.

Resentment is brewing up against the BJP government due to its anti-people decisions, he said.

The Chhattisgarh government had made an announcement to provide 150 days work under MGNREGA, but it closed the works under the scheme which resulted in migration of labourers to neighbouring states in search of jobs, he said.

The state government had also announced to give bonus to the farmers at Rs 300 per quintal, minimum support price of Rs 2,100 and to purchase the entire paddy from the farmers, but it has failed to fulfil its promises, he alleged.

The CBI investigation into the Food and Civil Supplies Department corruption incident, irregularities in distribution of good grains and kerosene, establishment of NMDC headquarters in Bastar and work to labourers under MGNREGA are the issues being highlighted during the padyatra, he added.