Chhattisgarh minister failed to answer definition of 'human trafficking'

It was an embarrassing moment for Chhattisgarh Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu after he failed to answer the definition of human trafficking in the Assembly session. Former CM Raman Singh hit out at the Congress govt over the increase in crime against women.

Raipur:Chhattisgarh Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu on Wednesday failed to answer the definition of 'human trafficking' on the third day of the Winter Assembly session. The question was raised by former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh and Sahu was left flummoxed.

Sahu, however, stated some laws made in connection with the crime but it did not seem to satisfy Singh. Raman Singh was quick to slam the ruling Bupesh-Baghel government and said that how can we expect strict punishment in such cases when the home minister does not know the meaning of human trafficking.

There has been a substantial increase in human trafficking in Chhattisgarh over the past two years.

The former Chief Minister raked up the issue of increasing cases of human trafficking in the state, accusing the government of being negligent in such cases. He also raised Dongargarh case and asked the government what steps have been taken to crackdown these networks operating in the state.

Singh, a senior BJP leader, also sought details of the steps taken by the administration to curb the crime, adding that Tamradhwaj Sahu gave wrong information on the topic.

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He asked, "What steps have been taken by the state committee to stop the crime?"

Replying to his query, Sahu said, "Officials have been appointed at DIG level. In Dongargarh case, eight accused have been arrested and efforts are on to nab one more accused."

However, Singh was unhappy with the response from the ruling Congress. The winter Parliament session will continue till December 30 and have seven sittings.

It is expected that Congress and opposition BJP would clash on issues like paddy procurement, farm distress, crime against women and the prevailing COVID-19 situation.

Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik said the Bhupesh Baghel government had failed on all fronts and the people of the state, especially farmers, were paying the price.

The BJP will also target the state government over the "deteriorating" law and order, as well as "reign of terror" unleashed by the sand, land and liquor mafias.

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With PTI inputs