The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly descended into chaos on Monday during the Question Hour, with the opposition Congress party launching a sharp attack on the state government over the contentious issue of unemployment allowance. The session, marked by intense sloganeering and heated exchanges, culminated in a dramatic walkout by Congress legislators who expressed profound dissatisfaction with the government's response.
Unemployment Figures Spark Heated Debate
The uproar was triggered when Congress MLA Baghel Lakheshwar sought clarity on the state's unemployment crisis. He specifically asked for the total number of registered unemployed individuals in Chhattisgarh as of 1 April 2024. In his written reply, Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb presented stark numbers that fueled the opposition's ire.
The minister revealed that as of the cut-off date, there were 11,39,656 registered unemployed individuals in the state. He further disclosed that an additional 4,08,201 unemployed persons had registered themselves in the financial year 2024-25. This pushed the cumulative total to a staggering 15,47,857 registered unemployed individuals as of 31 March 2025.
"Deception of the Youth": Former CM Leads Charge
The presentation of data, however, did little to quell the storm. Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel intervened forcefully, shifting the focus from mere numbers to the alleged failure in delivering promised benefits. Baghel pointed out a critical contradiction, stating he had received an official reply from the Assembly confirming that the unemployment allowance scheme had not been discontinued.
"Then why are the benefits not being provided? When will the unemployment allowance be disbursed?" Baghel demanded from the treasury benches. He accused the government of engaging in a "deception of the youth" by making a budgetary provision for the scheme but failing to actually disburse the funds to the eligible beneficiaries.
In response, Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb reiterated the government's stance, emphasizing, "We are making the youth self-reliant and capable." This explanation was immediately rejected by the opposition, leading to a noisy and intense war of words between the ruling and opposition benches, with accusations flying thick and fast.
Walkout and Political Repercussions
With the minister's explanation failing to satisfy their queries and the heated exchange yielding no concrete assurances, the Congress legislators decided to take a firm stand. Expressing their collective dissatisfaction with what they termed an "evasive and insensitive" reply from the government, the entire opposition party staged a walkout from the Assembly hall.
This political drama in Raipur underscores the growing tension over the unemployment issue in the state. The Congress has successfully placed the government on the defensive, framing the debate around the implementation of promised welfare schemes versus mere announcements. The incident is likely to resonate with the state's large youth population and could become a central plank for the opposition in the coming days, keeping the pressure on the ruling dispensation to deliver on its commitments.
