NEW DELHI, August 17, 2024 — The Congress party has alleged that the government is reneging on its commitment regarding the Nagarnar Steel Plant in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, and is moving forward with plans to privatize it. This accusation comes after the government reportedly ignored pleas from the state’s political leadership.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress General Secretary in charge of communications, took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the government. He referenced a media report suggesting that the Union Ministry of Finance is expected to invite financial bids for NMDC Steel (NSL) within the next two months.
“Kya hua tera waada, Woh kasam woh irada! It appears that NMDC Steel in Bastar will now definitely be privatised before the end of FY25,” Ramesh posted. He recalled a statement made by the Prime Minister on October 3, 2023, during the inauguration of the Steel Plant, where it was promised that the Nagarnar Steel Plant would remain under public ownership.
Ramesh further noted that on October 19, 2023, Swayambhu Chanakya reaffirmed the Prime Minister’s promise that the NMDC Steel Plant would not be privatized. He also highlighted the consensus in Chhattisgarh against the sale of the steel plant.
“Former BJP Chief Minister Raman Singh had written to the Prime Minister in April 2017 objecting to the privatisation of the plant,” Ramesh said. He also mentioned that former Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had repeatedly opposed the privatization and even proposed that the state government could manage its operations during a NITI Aayog meeting with the Prime Minister on February 21, 2021.
Ramesh accused the government of disregarding both the state’s political leaders and its own promises. “The non-biological PM and his government are now finalizing plans to sell the Nagarnar Steel Plant,” he said. He also shared a media report from October 2023 quoting Home Minister Amit Shah, who had assured that the NMDC-owned Nagarnar Steel Plant would not be privatized.
The Congress’s allegations reflect ongoing tensions over the future of the Nagarnar Steel Plant and the broader issues of privatization and state control.
