Raipur: Over 400 Congress workers were detained on Thursday when they tried to gherao Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's residence in Raipur demanding his resignation and dismissal of Health Minister Amar Agrawal over botched sterilisation surgeries in Bilaspur district.
AICC Secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh affairs Bhakt Charandas, State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, Leader of Opposition in Assembly TS Singhdeo, former chief minister Ajit Jogi, several legislators and nearly 1,000 party activists were on their way to the CM's residence when they were stopped by the police at OCM chowk.
Raipur Superintendent of Police OP Pal said a total of 402 Congress workers and leaders, including 36 women and 16 MLAs, were taken into custody and later released.
Baghel, Singhdeo and former Union Minister Charandas Mahant were among those taken into custody, the SP said.
Police put up barricades and pushed back protesters to prevent them from reaching the Chief Minister's residence.
Meanwhile, talking to mediapersons, Baghel alleged Singh and Agrawal can't be forgiven for the death of "mothers" at sterilisation camps and blamed them for "poor" medical facilities in the State.
He said the Chief Minister should step down on moral grounds, while his Cabinet colleague Agrawal must be removed from his post in the wake of the tragedy.
State Congress will stage an agitation in New Delhi on December 10 over the tragic incident, Baghel said.
A foot march protest launched by the main Opposition party from Bilaspur on November 22 today culminated in the state capital.
After end of the march at Gandhi Maidan, Congress leaders addressed the party workers and later proceeded to lay siege to the CM house.
Thirteen women lost their lives and many others were left in critical condition after undergoing botched sterilisation surgery at government-run health camps in Bilaspur earlier this month.
