Archive · 27 Sep 2026
Congress Targets Chhattisgarh BJP Over Tribal Rights, Jobs, Mining
The Congress party criticised the BJP government in Chhattisgarh.
It said tribal people were not receiving enough benefits from mining.
Congress also alleged that forests were being cleared and village councils were being ignored.
It asked the government to explain how mining funds were spent.
The party raised concerns about schools, hospitals, jobs and alleged treatment of villagers in Bastar.
It also said government job recruitments and examinations were delayed.
Congress demanded information about unemployment, forest-rights claims and changes to voter lists.
The party said it would campaign on these issues before the 2028 state election.
Congress leader Sukhdeo Bhagat accused the BJP government of weakening tribal rights and ignoring Gram Sabha consent for mining projects.
Bhagat alleged forests were being cleared in Hasdeo Aranya and demanded details on District Mineral Foundation spending.
He questioned development, security operations and alleged fake encounters and villager harassment in Bastar.
Congress criticised stalled recruitments, postponed examinations, unemployment and unfulfilled election promises involving jobs, farmers and allowances.
The party announced statewide outreach and mobilisation ahead of the 2028 Chhattisgarh assembly elections.
- Who
- All India Congress Committee in-charge Sukhdeo Bhagat and Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij made the allegations against the BJP government.
- What
- Congress accused the Chhattisgarh government of failing to protect tribal rights, manage mining impacts, create jobs and maintain law and order.
- When
- The remarks were reported from Sunday, September 27; the report does not specify the year.
- Where
- The statements were made in Raipur and concerned several parts of Chhattisgarh, including Hasdeo Aranya and Bastar.
- Why
- Congress said it was seeking accountability over tribal rights, mining, development, employment, election promises and governance.
Congress allegations and demands
BJP government position
Tribal rights and mining
Congress allegations and demands
Congress alleged that forests were being cleared for mining, Gram Sabha consent was being disregarded and tribal communities were not receiving a sufficient share of mineral benefits.
BJP government position
The report does not include a response from the BJP government to these allegations.
Development and security in Bastar
Congress allegations and demands
Congress questioned whether security-linked development was delivering schools, health facilities and employment, and sought an impartial inquiry into alleged fake encounters and villager harassment.
BJP government position
The report does not provide the government’s response or account of development and security operations in Bastar.
Jobs and election promises
Congress allegations and demands
Congress alleged that recruitments were stalled, examinations postponed and campaign promises on jobs, farmers and allowances remained unfulfilled.
BJP government position
The report does not state the BJP government’s response regarding recruitment, examinations or its election promises.
- Congress leader
- Sukhdeo Bhagat, the newly appointed All India Congress Committee in-charge of Chhattisgarh
- Main allegations
- Failures involving tribal rights, mining-affected development, employment and law and order
- Mining concern
- Congress alleged forest clearance in areas including Hasdeo Aranya and disregard for Gram Sabha consent
- Unemployment figure
- The report cited a 6.1% unemployment rate among people aged 15-29 in Chhattisgarh in 2025, according to the annual Periodic Labour Force Survey
- Voter rolls
- The February 2026 final electoral roll reportedly had 1,87,30,914 electors, compared with 2,12,30,737 in the pre-draft roll
- Political strategy
- Congress said it would strengthen its organisation, mobilise youth and women, and begin public outreach ahead of the 2028 assembly elections