Steel plant ‘privatisation’: Congress calls Bastar bandh on Modi visit day

The ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh has called for a Bastar shutdown on Tuesday (October 3), a day on which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Jagdalpur. The Congress has alleged that the Centre plans to privatise the NMDC Nagarnar steel plant in Bastar.

Modi is scheduled to address a BJP rally during his visit to the Bastar district headquarters in the poll-bound state.

“Move to hurt tribals”

Addressing a joint press conference in Raipur on Sunday (October 1), Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state Congress president Deepak Baij accused the Centre of trying to hand over the Nagarnar steel plant to private players.

The Centre’s move will deeply hurt the hopes and aspirations of tribal people, Baghel claimed.

“In 2020, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I had urged not to privatise the upcoming steel plant and, in the same year, the Chhattisgarh Assembly passed a resolution stating that the House urges the Centre not to disinvest the plant. And, if it is done, the state government is ready to buy it,” the chief minister said.

He claimed the Centre has inserted a clause under which the Chhattisgarh government cannot take part in the bidding process.

During his visit to Jagdalpur, Modi is likely to dedicate the NSP to the nation.

Bastar division comprises seven districts. The Nagarnar Steel Plant of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), a Central PSU, commenced production last month.

Baij alleged that the Centre wants to favour its industrialist friends and trying to sell the NSP to them.

“The entire tribal community in Bastar is agitated over the Centre’s move, as the tribals had given their land for the steel plant to NMDC, which is a public sector undertaking, and not to any private company,” he said.

Baghel and Baij demanded that PM Modi announce the setting up of an All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in Bastar during his forthcoming visit.

On paddy procurement

Referring to a rally addressed by Modi in Bilaspur district on Saturday, wherein he alleged the Chhattisgarh government was steeped in corruption, Baghel accused the PM of lying on various issues including paddy procurement.

“Modi ji said every single grain of paddy of farmers in the state is procured by the Centre. If it is so, the Centre should release an order to buy the entire paddy from farmers of the state on the support price this year,” Baghel said.

Queried about the prime minister’s promise of action against the guilty in the alleged PSC exam scam if the BJP comes to power, Baghel hit back saying the PM reads whatever is written on the prompter.

“If anyone submits a complaint in connection with the alleged irregularities in PSC recruitment, we will get it investigated. So far, no complaints have been received,” he said.

Amid allegations of recruitment of relatives of the chairman of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) in the CGPSC Exam 2021, Baghel asked if it is a crime to be children of officials.

“If the court orders that children of government officials cannot take part in the PSC exam we will abide by it,” he added.

The state goes to polls later this year.

(With agency inputs)