Cong demands discussion on farm losses due to C'garh hailstorm

The opposition Congress today created a ruckus in the Chhattisgarh Assembly demanding a discussion on the loss caused to farmers due to the recent rainfall and hailstorms in several parts of the state.
As many as 21 Congress MLAs were suspended after they trooped into the Well of the House but their suspensions were later revoked by Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal.
Senior Congress MLAs Dhanendra Sahu, Satyanarayan Sharma, the Leader of the Opposition TS Singhdeo and Kawasi Lakhma raised the issue and sought a discussion on it while moving an adjournment motion notice.
They said that farmers, who are already bearing the brunt of a drought like situation, had suffered another jolt due to the untimely rains and hailstorm damaging crops.

Chhattisgarh Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey had yesterday delivered his statement in the House on the issue but the Congress said that the statement was not enough as it had mentioned about losses only in three districts, namely Rajnandgaon, Kawardha and Bemetara.
The party said that several more districts were affected and therefore an elaborate discussion was required.

Chairperson Devjibhai Patel, who was in the Chair, rejected the motion citing that a similar Adjournment Motion was moved by Bahujan Samajwadi Party MLA Keshav Chandra yesterday and Revenue Minister Pandey had already made a statement.
Patel said that members would get sufficient time for discussions during the department wise discussion on budget proposals for the fiscal 2018-19.

Thereafter, Congress state chief Bhupesh Baghel said that the compensation which had been announced was based on the Revenue Book Circular 6-4 which would not be sufficient, adding that compensation should be given as per assessment of the actual loss caused to farmers.
Baghel alleged that, even after 24 hours, not a single revenue department official or Collector had made an on site inspection.
He urged the Chair to accept the motion and hold a discussion, which was rejected, following which Congress members started shouting slogans, leading to the House being adjourned for five minutes.
When the House resumed, Baghel once again demanded a discussion saying that a special compensation package should be given to farmers to tide over the losses.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ajay Chandrakar said that the state cabinet had yesterday discussed the issue and the Chief Minister had announced in the House that loss assessment was to be completed in one week followed by compensation.
The Congress, which continued shouting slogans, was further enraged after Chandrakar told them to "stop shedding crocodile tears".
After 21 Congress legislators entered the Well of the House, they were suspended.