Chhattisgarh: Congress grills BJP on opium cultivation issue

Congress legislators raised the issue of illegal cultivation of opium, allegedly at the farm of a local BJP functionary, in the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Monday (March 9, 2026). 

The Opposition MLAs caused a ruckus in the House alleging that the BJP leader Vinayak Tamrakar was involved in the farming in Durg district and claimed that he enjoyed protection from the ruling party. They also moved an adjournment motion over the issue which was disallowed by the chair leading to protest and subsequent suspension of 29 Congress MLAs.

The Leader of the Opposition Charan Das Mahant raised the matter during the Zero Hour and said that opium cultivation was taking place about 50 km from the State capital Raipur.

The LoP claimed that Mr. Tamrakar was involved in illegal farming. Mr. Tamrakar, who has now been suspended from the party, has been named in the FIR, he said.

He claimed that there appeared to be administrative collusion in the case, and accused the government of wanting to make Chhattisgarh, which is known “dhan ka katora” (rice bowl) of the country, “afeem ka katora” (opium bowl) by 2047.

Joining him, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel claimed the District Collector had earlier identified the field as belonging to Mr. Tamrakar, but the police had not made him the main accused in the FIR.

Instead, a man from Rajasthan who worked at the farm was listed as the prime accused, followed by another farm worker, while Mr. Tamrakar was named third in the FIR, he said. The FIR lacked key details such as the exact landholding and ownership of the property, Mr. Baghel claimed.

Congress members demanded a discussion by moving an adjournment motion notice in the House. The party alleged that maize and wheat crops had been planted around the opium fields to conceal the illegal activity.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma replied on the issue and said that a joint team comprising police, officials from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), excise and revenue departments conducted a raid at the site.

Due to darkness, the site was secured on the first day and the seizure operation resumed on March 7 in the presence of a chief judicial magistrate. Three accused— Vikas Vishnoi, Manish Thakur and Vinayak Tamrakar— were arrested and produced before a court the same day, Mr. Sharma added.

A case has been registered at Pulgaon police station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities seized opium plants weighing 62,424.4 kg, valued at about ₹7.8 crore, he informed. He also informed the House that between 2024 and February 2026, the State registered 2,947 cases related to narcotics trafficking and arrested 5,177 accused.

After Mr. Sharma’s reply, the Chair disallowed the adjournment motion. Dissatisfied, Congress members began sloganeering and entered the well of the House, leading to their automatic suspension. The Chair announced the suspension of 29 Congress members, following which they sat on the floor of the House and continued shouting slogans against the government.

After the issue surfaced on March 7, BJP suspended its Kisan Morcha functionary Mr. Tamrakar from the party for tarnishing its image.

Meanwhile the Congress party also announced a street protests on the issue.

“On the call of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee, in protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s protection to the drug trade, a protest/demonstration is to be held on March 12, 2026 by gheraoing the BJP office in all the district headquarters of the State including the capital Raipur,” read a party statement issued on Monday (March 9, 2026) evening.