In Raipur: The Congress, Chhattisgarh’s main opposition party, caused chaos in the Assembly on Friday by demanding the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma following the killing of three members of a Baiga tribe family in Kabirdham district. This led to the House proceedings being adjourned twice and Congress MLAs being suspended. The Speaker refused the opposition’s request for a discussion on the matter. During Zero Hour, senior Congress MLA Bhupesh Baghel raised the issue and called for a debate. When uproar ensued, Speaker Raman Singh temporarily adjourned the session. Upon resuming, the Minister provided a statement on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma regarding the incident.
The Minister’s Statement: The Minister informed the House about the tragic incident where Budhram Baiga, his wife Hirmati, and their young son Jonhu Ram perished in a fire in their hut. Thirteen suspects, including two women, were arrested based on eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence. The Congress MLAs expressed dissatisfaction with the Minister’s statement, alleging a cover-up by the police to protect the accused.
Congress MLAs’ Demands: Following the arrests made more than a month after the crime, Congress MLAs demanded justice for the Baiga tribal family, suspension of the District Collector, and the resignation of the Home Minister. The lawmakers even boycotted the proceedings and protested in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue outside the House.
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