TFP Bureau, Raipur; September 19, 2024: In response to the worsening law and order situation in Chhattisgarh and the recent Kawardha incident, the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has announced a statewide bandh for 21 September. This move is aimed at drawing attention to alleged police misconduct and deteriorating security in the state.
A delegation of senior Congress leaders, including PCC President Deepak Baij, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, former President Dhanendra Sahu, former Minister Dr. Shivkumar Dahria, and former MLA Vikas Upadhyay, visited Loharidih in Kawardha. They attended the funeral of Prashant Sahu, who died while in police custody. The family of the deceased has alleged that he was assaulted by police, leading to his death.
Following their visit, Baij and Baghel held a press conference where they made several serious allegations against the state government. They called for the dismissal of the Home Minister, citing the incident’s occurrence in his district, and demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting High Court judge. They also criticized the government’s handling of law and order, claiming that there are disparate laws for common citizens and those in power, and called for a second post-mortem of the deceased.
The Congress leaders further demanded access to CCTV footage from the Rengakhar police station and expressed concerns about the overall security atmosphere in the state. They argued that both the Chief Minister and Home Minister should be removed from their positions due to their failure to address the situation effectively.
State Congress President Deepak Baij emphasized that the safety of women, children, and youth is at risk under the current administration. He asserted that the government’s attempts to suppress the Kawardha incident were unsuccessful due to Congress’s vigilance. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel echoed these sentiments, demanding a re-evaluation of the post-mortem report and a review of the police conduct.
The Congress party’s bandh call is expected to mobilize widespread public support and draw significant attention to their concerns about law and order in Chhattisgarh.
