Raipur, December 17: On the first day of taking charge, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel took three major decisions: ordering a farm loan-waiver, increasing minimum support prices (MSP) on paddy crops, and forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the 2013 Jhiram Ghati massacre, which wiped out the then Congress top brass in the state.

The farm-loan waiver was the Congress' key poll plank moving into the assembly elections. Party chief Rahul Gandhi had promised to implement the loan-waiver programme within 10 days if the Congress got elected to power. The poll promise yielded results as the Congress swept the entire rural belt of Chhattisgarh, in its 68 out of 90-seat victory in the state. Baghel: Profile of Congressman Who Replaces 15 Years of Raman Raj.

Baghel also announced a hike in the MSP on paddy crop, raising it from Rs 1,700 per quintal at present to Rs 2,500. This was also one of the promises made by the Congress ahead of the elections.

Baghel also ordered an SIT probe into the naxal attack on May 25, 2013 -- when 28 people were killed including the entire state leadership of the Congress.

"Our third decision is related to Jhiram Ghati. Total 29 people including prominent leaders like Nand Kumar Patel were killed. Conspirators haven't been exposed. No such massacre of politicians ever took place in history. To nab the culprits, a SIT has been formed," the Chief Minister added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2018 11:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).