Cong demands resignation of Raman on Hostel Mass Rape case

     Raipur, February 19, 2013: an aggressive Congress today demanded in Chhattisgarh Assembly the resignation of Dr Raman Singh from the Chief Ministership for increase in atrocities against women in the state and especially the Jhiliamary Tribal Hostel rape case.

     On the Jhiliamari tribal hostel mass rape incident, the Congress party also attempted to move an adjournment motion and through that raised several issues of atrocities on women and demanded the resignation of Raman Singh from the Chief Ministership.

      Entire tribal society and Chhattisgarh are feeling ashamed due to Jhiliamari incident, Bodhram Kanwar said initiating the discussion from Congress side on acceptance of the motion.

      Ashram is a sacred place, and we can not think of such an incident could take place there, he said.

     It was a serious issue, because officials were aware of the incident of exploitation of girls in that Jhiliamari Ashram and did not take any action, he said.

     Demanding a judicial probe into the Jhiliamari incident, the senior Congress leader said Raman Singh can not run away from moral responsibility. Hence he should resign from the Chief Ministership, Kanwar demanded.

     Bluntly attacking the Raman Government, former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi of Congress asked “why have our sensitivity lost”?

     He also wanted to know why the Chief Minister Singh preferred to stay away from visiting the hostel or meeting the small girl students. He also criticised Singh for accepting garlands in new district functions after that incident came to light.

     Shiv Dehria of Congress criticised the Tribal Department and said although the Jhiliamari Hostel belonged to Tribal Department, but the FIR was lodged by the Women and Child Welfare Department.

      PCC President Nand Kumar Patel said despite statement by the Tribal Department, male workers are still working in girl hostels.

     Dharamjeet Singh of Congress said the state BJP government should learn what morality was.

      Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey made Raman Singh morally responsible for the incident and demanded his resignation.

     Stating that the law and order situation in the state has collapsed, Choubey wanted to know how a train was hijacked in the state and the government failed to do any thing to apprehend the culprits involved in that.

     When a people’s representative had given in writing about the Jhiliamari incident, why action was not taken promptly, the CLP leader wanted to know.

     Replying to the debate, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh admitted it was a painful incident and case has been registered against the accused.

     To protect the identity of the victims and their families, the Governor had not visited the incident site, Singh said.

     “I discussed with the family and the victims spending hours together. However, I never went to media and also asked my ministers and secretaries to keep that secret,” he explained.

      Finally the chair rejected the adjournment motion.