The final day of Chhattisgarh's winter legislative session descended into complete disorder on Wednesday, as protests by opposition Congress members over the alleged political misuse of investigative agencies led to multiple adjournments and the suspension of its MLAs. The crucial Question Hour was entirely lost to the chaos.
Posters, Slogans, and Adjournments Disrupt Proceedings
The session opened with Congress legislators entering the House wearing posters bearing the national motto "Satyamev Jayate" (Truth Alone Triumphs). They immediately began shouting slogans, accusing the central and state governments of weaponizing agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the state's Economic Offences Wing and Anti-Corruption Bureau (EOW/ACB).
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members objected to the posters inside the chamber. Speaker Raman Singh ruled that placards and banners were against Assembly rules and directed the opposition to remove them. Upon Congress's refusal, he called for the first adjournment of five minutes.
When the House reconvened, the slogan-shouting continued, leading to a second adjournment of ten minutes. With protests persisting, the Speaker was forced to adjourn proceedings again until noon. Consequently, no questions could be taken up on the last day of the session.
Adjournment Motion Rejected, MLAs Suspended
Congress members later sought a discussion on the issue by moving an adjournment motion. However, the Speaker informed the House that he had already rejected the motion in his chamber earlier, stating that the Question Hour could not be disrupted for such protests.
Defiant Congress legislators then trooped into the well of the House, which led to their suspension under Assembly rules. Thirty-four Congress MLAs, including the Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, walked out in protest before their suspension was later revoked.
Allegations of Political Vendetta and Agency Weaponization
Speaking to the media, Bhupesh Baghel launched a sharp attack, alleging that investigative agencies were being used to "strangulate the opposition" and intimidate public representatives. He made a serious claim that witness statements were being pre-written by the state EOW and presented as genuine court documents.
Referring to the ED's arrest of his son, Chaitanya Baghel, he stated, "We are not scared. But democracy is in danger when agencies are weaponised." He cited the National Herald case involving Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as another example of "political vendetta."
In response, BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar argued that the actions of central agencies could not be discussed in a state Assembly. He accused the previous Congress government of establishing a pattern of politically misusing institutions.
As Congress chanted "Satyamev Jayate" and "Investigative agencies ka durupyog band karo" (Stop the misuse of investigative agencies), BJP members countered with "Vande Mataram." With the morning lost to protests and adjournments, the winter session concluded without its key business, overshadowed by a fierce political clash over the role of probe agencies in India's democracy.
