The Chattisgarh Congress has called for a shutdown in Bastar on the day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Jagdalpur on Tuesday. The party alleged that the Centre was planning to privatise the NDMC Nagarnar steel plant in the region.

During his visit to Bastar district headquarters in the poll-bound state, PM Modi is scheduled to address a BJP rally ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

While addressing a press conference on Sunday, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced the bandh (shutdown) and alleged that the central government was trying to sell the Nagarnar steel plant in Bastar district to private companies.

The National Mineral Development Corporation's (NMDC) Nagarnar Steel Plant, a central public sector enterprise (PSU), reportedly began production last month.

"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 had 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," CM Baghel said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

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The chief minister further said that the Union government had inserted a clause that prevents the Chhattisgarh government from participating in the bidding process.

CM Baghel and state Congress chief Deepak Baij demanded that during his next visit, PM Modi announced the setting up of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bastar.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel addressing a press conference. (Image: bhupeshbaghel/X)

Baghel also refuted PM Modi’s allegations during a rally in Bilaspur on Saturday, that the Chhattisgarh government was involved in various scams.

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

Reacting to Baghel’s statements, the BJP said that the Congress government was baffled following the visit of the PM to the state.

“The Congress knows that they are caught and exposed by the PM. People of the state also know the facts,” said Sacchinanad Upasane, BJP spokesperson in Chhattisgarh.


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