In a sharp escalation of political rhetoric, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Deepak Baij launched a direct attack on the state's BJP government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. Baij squarely blamed the administration's policies for the recent unrest in Tamnar, terming them fundamentally "anti-village, anti-poor, and anti-tribal."
At the Heart of the Dispute: Gare Pelma Coal Mine
The core of the conflict is the Gare Pelma Sector-1 open-cast coal mine located in the Raigad area. This mine has been allocated to a private company, a move that has sparked intense resistance from the local population. Residents from 14 affected villages have been holding a continuous protest since December 5, steadfastly refusing to give up their ancestral lands and forests.
After visiting the affected villagers in Tamnar on Monday, Baij explained their fears. The community is deeply concerned that large-scale coal mining operations will lead to the irreversible destruction of their local agriculture and the surrounding environment, threatening their very livelihood and heritage.
Allegations of a "Fictional" Hearing and Police Crackdown
Baij leveled serious allegations against the state administration, accusing it of acting as an agent for private interests. He claimed that despite widespread local opposition, the authorities conducted a "fictional" public hearing on December 8.
"The administration sidelined genuine residents and gathered 15-20 contract workers of the company to stage a fake hearing. Their sole objective was to obtain forced consent," the PCC chief stated during a press conference at the party's state headquarters, Rajiv Bhavan, in Raipur.
The situation reached a boiling point on December 27 in Libra village. According to Baij, who had visited the protest site on December 19 to express solidarity, the administration moved to disperse what had been a peaceful protest. He alleged that police used batons and tear gas to crush the movement.
"Around 50-60 protesters were detained. People were dragged away as the government resorted to cruelty to suppress public dissent," Baij said, describing the scene.
Questions Over Government's Absence and Approach
The Congress leader raised critical questions about the government's engagement, or lack thereof, with the protesting villagers. He highlighted that the people had been on a dharna since December 5, yet key officials failed to initiate dialogue.
"Why did the Collector or SP not meet them to resolve the deadlock through dialogue?" Baij questioned, pointing out the prolonged absence of government representatives during the weeks-long sit-in. This absence, he implied, demonstrated the administration's disregard for the concerns of the tribal and village communities affected by the industrial project.
The incident in Tamnar has now become a major political flashpoint in Chhattisgarh, with the opposition Congress framing it as a consequence of the BJP government's alleged bias against the state's rural and tribal populace.
