The Congress on Tuesday blocked roads across all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh against the arrest of former CM Bhupesh Baghel’s son Chaitanya ED.
Raipur: The Congress on Tuesday blocked roads across all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh as a statewide protest against the arrest of former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel’s son Chaitanya by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Since morning, Congress workers hit the streets in Raipur, Surguja, Bastar, Durg and Bilaspur divisions. In Surguja, the party workers chanted Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.
Protesters jammed the VIP Road, Shriram Mandir Chowk (Currency Tower), Dharsiwa, Dhaneli and many other arterial routes here. National highways were also not spared. A demonstration took place at Sehradabri signal on NH-30 at Dhamtari in which workers from three assembly constituencies took part.
Long queues were seen on the Raipur-Jagdalpur road. Slogans such as “ED bhagao, CBI bhagao, Adani bhagao, pradesh bachao” (Get rid of the ED, CBI and Adani, save the state) rent the air.
Traffic between Raipur and Bilaspur affected
In Bilaspur, the Sakri-Pendridih flyover was obstructed thereby severely affecting traffic between Raipur and Bilaspur. However, school buses and ambulances were kept out of the purview of the agitation.
NH-30 became non-functional
A jam at Amaguda Chowk in Bastar’s Jagdalpur resulted in non-functioning of NH-30 connecting Raipur with Odisha. At the Kotra Road overbridge in Raigarh, a former legislator and mayor were among Congress leaders who squatted on the road. Trucks and dumpers were also stopped.
At Azad Chowk in Kharora, the Raipur-Balodabazar road was blocked. Among those present was former parliamentarian Chhaya Verma.
Ex-MLA Vikas Upadhyay alleged that BJP dispensations were selling states to industrialists such as Adani. “This fight is for water, forest and land. At Tamnar in Raigarh a forest is being cut down illegally and there is nobody to stop it,” he said.
Katni-Gumla road blocked
In Manendragarh, despite rain, NH-43 (the Katni-Gumla road) was blocked. A police force is present and traffic was diverted via the main bus stand. Emergency services have been granted relief on terms and conditions.
Earlier, Baghel said, “The ED has become a BJP organisation. Their strike rate is not even 1 per cent. This is political vendetta.” He alleged that the Adani group is looting the state’s mineral resources while the government remains a mute spectator.