Thirty Congress members were suspended from the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly for 24 hours on Thursday after they caused an uproar over the state government's alleged failure to provide sufficient diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer.The chaos during the discussion on the issue led to the Speaker adjourning the House twice, reported PTI.
The matter was raised during the Question Hour by senior Congress MLA Umesh Patel, who questioned the demand and supply of DAP in the state and inquired about a potential shortage.
PTI reported, The state Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam in response stated that for the 2025 kharif crop season, the Centre had set a target of 3,10,000 metric tonnes of DAP for the state. He acknowledged a shortfall in the supply against the plan issued until June 30.
Netam attributed the DAP shortage to global reasons, a condition he said persists throughout the country. He mentioned that alternative phosphatic fertilizers and nano DAP are being promoted to farmers.
In the report by PTI, Congress members claimed that the fertilizer was being black-marketed in the private sector at high prices due to shortages in cooperative societies. Dissatisfied with the minister's reply, the opposition members began protesting.
According to PTI, the MLA’s shouted slogans against the government and moved into the well of the House leading to their automatic suspension. Speaker Raman Singh announced the suspension of 30 Congress MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. The Congress party has a total of 35 members in the 90-seat assembly.
Despite the suspension, the Congress members remained in the well, continuing their sloganeering. The Speaker expressed his displeasure with their actions and suspended them for the remainder of the day.
