In reality, in October 2020, the Modi Government decided to sell a majority stake of 50.79% of the Nagarnar Steel Plant, privatising it. This decision was taken by the Economic Affairs Committee, which is chaired by the PM himself.
The implementation of this decision has been entrusted to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) under the Finance Ministry, which had invited bids on 2 December 2022. According to media reports, five companies are likely to bid for the majority stake in Nagarnar Steel Plant, including the PM’s best friend, the Adani Group.
The Chairman of the National Mineral Development Corporation, Amitabh Mukherjee, has said that the process of disinvestment will be accelerated. It is clear from his words that as soon as the 2023 Vidhan Sabha elections are over, bids will be invited and the Nagarnar Steel Plant will be handed over to the PM’s crony capitalist friends.
The Congress Party has steadfastly opposed the privatization of Nagarnar Steel Plant. When in opposition in Chhattisgarh, in 2016, the Congress had taken out a 17 KM long padyatra to protest against the privatization of this plant and to raise the problems of the people who will be affected by this decision. Local farmers, laborers, steel workers Modi members, and others had participated and opposed the privatization decision.
At that time, the news had spread throughout Chhattisgarh that the Modi Government wanted to hand over this plant to Adani. The pressure on the then-BJP government had increased so much that the then-Chief Minister Raman Singh had to write a letter to the Prime Minister in April 2017 explaining the disadvantages of privatization of this plant.
Even after the formation of Congress government in the state, our stand is absolutely clear. So far, Rs 20,000 crores have been spent on the establishment of the plant. After investing so much of the people’s money, it would not be right to turn it over to private hands.
Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said many times that if the Modi Government cannot run the Nagarnar Steel Plant then it should hand it over to the State Government, and we will run it. A government resolution regarding this has also been passed in the Assembly. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had also placed this demand before the Prime Minister in a NITI Aayog meeting on 21 February 2021, but no response was received.
Jairam Ramesh posed three questions:
1. Why does the Prime Minister not want to allow the Chhattisgarh state government to run this plant instead of selling it to his crony capitalist friends?
2. When complete preparations have been made to turn over the Nagarnar Steel Plant to private hands, then how will it remain the property of the people of Bastar?
3. When will the Prime Minister stop lying so shamelessly?
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