The main Opposition in Chhattisgarh Assembly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), continued to create uproar in the House for the second consecutive day demanding an Adjournment Motion over law and order. After the Speaker rejected the move of BJP seeking an Adjournment Motion on deteriorating law and order and crimes in the state on Tuesday, the main Opposition on Wednesday demanded Adjournment Motion on Wednesday on crime against women. The BJP demanded an immediate discussion on the issue.
Soon after the Question Hour, BJP MLA Shivratan Sharma raised the issue of crime against women including heinous crimes like rake, gang-rape, abduction, molestation along with domestic violence have increased in the state and the women are leading their life under an atmosphere of fear. In the meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ravindra Choubey intervened while stating that the BJP had already raised this issue on Tuesday and these things have already come up in discussions and again similar issues cannot be raised.
MLA Sharma and Ajay Chandrakar stated that the BJP had raked up issue of deteriorating law and order in the state which included issues like murder, abduction, armed dacoity, burglary, attempt to murder, etc. They raise up the issue of crime against women on Wednesday and both are different.
Opposition members of the House Dr Raman Singh, Brijmohan Agrawal, Narayan Chandel, Punnulal Mohle, Ranjana Deependra Sahu and the Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik also joined the voice of Chandrakar and Sharma. They alleged that on an average, heinous crimes against women were taking place everyday. In the last two months several cases of rape, gang-rapes and molestation has taken place in the state. Citing examples of several rape and gang-rape cases, they said a minor was gang-raped twice in the capital on December 24, 2020 under Rakhi PS by three accused; four youths gang-raped a 19 year old girl on February 2, 2021 in Mandir Hasaud; a 16 year old minor belonging primitive tribe group Pahari Korwa was brutally gang-raped by six youths in village Barpani under Korba district under Lemru PS and later they murdered her along with her father and four-year old sister brutally.
They further alleged that in Jashpur district, a minor girl who was returning from school along with her friend, was abducted and gang-raped by nine youths. Several cases of rape and gang-rape were filed in the capital itself, in Bhilai, in Rajnandgaon and Surguja districts as well. Also worth mentioning here is the gang-rape and rape against inmates of Ujjwala Women Rehabilitation Centre in Sarkanda of Bilaspur district by its Director and his friends. These activities were going on since many days but came to fore on January 20, 2021.
The BJP Legislators alleged that instead of initiating proceedings against these accused the state government is not ready to take cognizance of these incidents while its Ministers are issuing absurd statements on incidents of rape. Instead of arresting these accused it is being alleged these cases are being hushed up for monetary benefits. Due to this approach, the criminals have lost fear of police. They said that it is highly unfortunate that no statements are coming either from the Chief Minister or from the Home Minister condemning these incidents.
However, Devvrat Singh who’s on the Chair, rejected the Adjournment Motion, which led to pandemonium in the House with opposition BJP Legislators shouting slogans. The Chair suspended the proceedings for 5 minutes and when the House resumed again it went ahead with its proceedings.
