Congress Claims Centre's Plan to Privatize Bastar's Nagarnar Steel Plant

The Congress party asserted on Saturday that the Central government is set to privatize the Nagarnar Steel Plant located in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. Highlighting broken promises, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the move, especially after the Prime Minister's 2023 inauguration of the plant.

The Congress party on Saturday alleged that the Central government has finalized plans to privatize the Nagarnar Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district. Congress general secretary, Jairam Ramesh, cited a media report indicating that the government is expected to invite financial bids for the plant soon.

'Kya hua tera waada, Woh kasam woh irada! It appears that NMDC Steel in Bastar will now definitely be privatized before the end of FY25,' Ramesh stated. He added that the government, after ignoring the state's political leadership and breaking its promises, is proceeding with the privatization plans. 'Who may well buy it is another story,' he remarked.

Ramesh further commented to ANI, highlighting the Prime Minister's inauguration of the plant in 2023. 'On October 3, 2023, a three-million-tonne steel plant was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in Bastar. During the inauguration, he claimed the plant belonged to the people of Bastar and would not be handed over to anyone else. On October 19, 2023, another assurance was given that the plant would not be privatized,' he elaborated.

The Congress leader also mentioned that former Chief Minister Raman Singh, in August 2017, requested the Prime Minister to avoid privatization. Similar requests were made by the current Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in August 2020 and 2021. Despite these assurances, recent reports suggest impending privatization, Ramesh noted.

Earlier this year, the Congress party had called for a bandh in Bastar district opposing the plant's privatization.

(With inputs from agencies.)