Congress stages walkout against police action on March 16

The main opposition Congress continued its protest for the second consecutive day in the Chhattisgarh Assembly today over the issue of police lathicharge on protesting party workers as they attempted to gherao the Vidhan Sabha on Monday.
Later, the Congress members staged a walkout from the House, accusing the Chhattisgarh government of resorting to police lathicharge to suppress the voice of Congress workers and farmers as well as demanding a probe into the police action.
Raising the issue after Question Hour, Congress members sought a discussion on the issue by moving an adjournment motion notice.
Subsequently, Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal allowed the discussion on admissibility of the adjournment motion notice about alleged police atrocities on Congress workers on their way to gherao the Vidhan Sabha on March 16, raising several issues related to farmers and labourers.

During the debate, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra refuted the charges levelled by the main opposition Congress that the state government had asked the police to brutally lathicharge labourers, farmers, women and Congressmen who were peacefully protesting by marching ahead towards the Chhattisgarh Assembly.
"Police officials on duty and the Executive Magistrate tried to pacify the crowd as well as stop them from proceeding towards the Vidhan Sabha. They were informed that Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been imposed all around the Chhattisgarh Assembly," Paikra said.
"Despite being cautioned, Congress workers not only proceeded forward, but also tried to break barricades and scuffled with police personnel as well as tried to obstruct government work. The police force present at the spot thwarted the move using mild force," he said.