Congress to launch ‘jail-bharo’ protest against fake encounters, meagre bonus to farmers

New Delhi: Opposition Congress will stage a state-wide “jail bharo andolan” in Chhattisgarh on November 1 in support of its 20-point demand including a judicial probe into the alleged fake Naxal encounters in Bastar and a minimum bonus of Rs 300 to paddy farmers.

“On November 1, Congress will stage state-wide jail bharo andolan in which the senior leaders of party will court arrest in different parts of the state,” Chhattisgarh Congress spokesperson Ghanshyam Raju Tiwari said in a statement.

Notably, Chhattisgarh will complete its 16 years of formation on November 1 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Naya Raipur, near here to inaugurate the five-day statehood celebrations on the day.

Our demands include bonus of Rs 300 and minimum support price of Rs 2,100 to farmers for each quintal of paddy as promised by the ruling BJP ahead of the last assembly polls, 35 kg rice to every ration card holder family, speedy payment of pending crop insurance amount to farmers, stop outsourcing in local jobs, CBI inquiry into 2013 Jiram valley Naxal incident in which Congress leaders were killed, judicial enquiry into alleged fake Naxal encounters in Bastar, he said.

Meanwhile, a signature campaign will be also carried out demanding paddy bonus for farmers, Tiwari said.

Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, Leader Congress Legislature Party (CLP) TS Singhdeo, MLA Satyanarayan Sharma, will take part in the protest at Raipur, the spokesperson said.