Former CM Bhupesh Baghel visits Bilaspur, addresses massive tribal gathering in Kota

By : Suchet Kumar Maravi
Bilaspur : Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and AICC general secretary Bhupesh Baghel was on a day-long visit to Bilaspur district on Monday. The visit began with a courtesy meeting at the residence of Bilaspur MLA Atal Shrivastav, where he interacted with local Congress leaders and party workers, inquiring about organisational activities and current issues.

Several senior leaders, including Masturi MLA Dilip Lahariya, Akaltara MLA Raghvendra Singh, Janjgir MLA Vyas Kashyap, Bhatapara MLA Indrasaw, former MLA Rashmi Singh, and ex-MP Ingrid MacLeod, along with city and block Congress functionaries, were present.

Later, Mr. Baghel proceeded to Kota, where he was welcomed by Block Congress Committee president Aditya Dixit and members of Youth Congress, Mahila Congress, and rural units. At the venue of the Vishal Adivasi Sammelan, tribal community representatives received him with traditional honours including garlands, gamchha, pagdi, and khumri.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Baghel highlighted initiatives undertaken during his 2018–2023 tenure for tribal communities, including implementation of the PESA Act and procurement of 65 forest produce items at support prices. He accused the current BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the State of discontinuing key schemes, undermining tribal rights, and facilitating deforestation in Hasdeo and Tamnar despite individual and community land titles.

He urged tribal leaders to unite in defending their rights over land, forests, and minerals, assuring full support from Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Kota MLA Atal Shrivastav and Gondwana Ganatantra Party president Tuleshwar Singh Markam also addressed the event, calling for collective struggle on forest rights, fair forest produce prices, and protection of natural resources.

The programme featured traditional cultural welcomes, felicitation of community achievers, and participation from elected representatives of district panchayats, janpad panchayats, and sarpanch associations. The event concluded with a pledge of unity and mass mobilisation for tribal rights. Mr. Baghel departed for Durg via Raipur in the evening.