Police foiled Congress leaders’ attempt to gherao the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday in Nava Raipur. The demonstration, dubbed ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram,’ highlighted power tariff hikes, the LPG cylinder crisis, and other issues in Raipur. Earlier, a public meeting took place at Bharat Mata Chowk in Shankar Nagar on Canal Road. All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary for Chhattisgarh Sachin Pilot, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Dr Charan Das Mahant, State Congress President Deepak Baij, and other senior leaders participated. Addressing a public gathering, former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot accused the BJP-led Central government of trying to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the “Viksit Bharat Gramya Rozgar Adhiniyam (VB-G RAM G Act), 2025.” He also slammed the deteriorating law-and-order situation in Chhattisgarh. Pilot further charged that the state BJP government shows no concern for the poor, farmers, or women. Under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, the Congress is amplifying the people’s voice nationwide against such policies. He predicted a Congress victory in the 2028 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

 

Baghel alleged that girls remain unsafe under BJP rule, with illegal abortions rampant across the state. CLP leader Dr Charan Das Mahant said workers receive no protection under BJP governance, and the state is discriminating against farmers by refusing to purchase their entire paddy produce. Senior Congress leaders Tamradhwaj Sahu, Dhanendra Sahu, Dr Shiv Kumar Dahariya, Mohan Markam, Amitesh Shukla, former Minister Amarjeet Bhagat, Umesh Patel, Devendra Yadav and Subodh Haritwal also addressed the public meeting. State Congress In-charge General Secretary Malkit Singh Gaindu conducted the proceedings of the meeting. President of Urban District Congress Committee Raipur Srikumar Menan proposed the vote of thanks. After the meeting, Congress workers and leaders marched from Bharat Mata Chowk toward the Assembly, but police intercepted them. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Tarkeshwar Patel stated that there was no use of force against agitating Congress members. They didn’t even detain anyone. The marching Congress members were stopped at the Canal Linking road before advancing any further. AICC Secretaries S Sampat Kumar, Szarita Laitphlang, AICC Joint Secretary Vijay Jangid, MLAs, senior Congress leaders and hundreds of Congress leaders and workers from various parts of the state participated in the protest.