The monsoon session of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly commenced on Monday with intense uproar and sharp accusations. On the very first day, the opposition cornered the government over the shortage of DAP fertilizer in the state and irregularities in the Revenue Inspector Recruitment Examination 2024. There was vigorous sloganeering in the House on both these issues, and the opposition eventually staged a walkout.
Government Cornered Over Fertilizer Crisis
The opposition raised the issue of a severe shortage of DAP fertilizer in the state, targeting the government. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel alleged that farmers were getting DAP fertilizer for ₹2100, whereas the actual price is ₹1300, and this was happening under the government's patronage. He said that the government's intentions were not clear, and the supply of paddy was being deliberately reduced to curtail production.
The opposition stated that substandard seeds were being openly sold in the market, causing losses to farmers, but the government remained silent. There was a huge uproar in the House on this issue, because of which the proceedings were adjourned until Tuesday.
Adequate Provision of Alternative Fertilizers
Responding to the opposition's allegations in the House, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai acknowledged the shortage of fertilizer but also assured the farmers that there was no need to worry. He said that considering the shortfall in the supply of DAP, the government had made adequate arrangements for alternative fertilizers such as Nano DAP, NPK, and SSP.
The Chief Minister informed that currently, 1,79,000 bottles of Nano DAP were stocked in the state, and their regular supply was being ensured. He said that the needs of the farmers were being given priority and that no one would be allowed to suffer due to the lack of fertilizer.
Recruitment Scam Also Heated the Atmosphere
The issue of irregularities in the Revenue Inspector Recruitment Examination 2024 also cast a shadow over the House. The opposition accused the government of protecting corrupt officials and staged a walkout from the House, protesting against this issue as well.
Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma confirmed the irregularities in the recruitment process in the House and said that a five-member committee had been constituted to investigate the matter, whose report revealed the irregularities. He said that the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) had now been assigned a high-level investigation into the matter, which was investigating on the basis of 40 different points.
The minister assured that strict action would be taken against the culprits before the upcoming assembly session and that the entire process would be carried out in a transparent manner.
The House May Remain Heated in the Future
The opposition's approach has been aggressive since the beginning of the monsoon session. By cornering the government on important issues like the fertilizer crisis and the recruitment scam on the first day itself, the opposition has indicated that the atmosphere of the session may get even more heated in the coming days. In such a situation, it remains to be seen how the government responds to the questions of the opposition and how much it can instill confidence in the public.
