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This is an archive article published on July 8, 2023

Congress sees Chhattisgarh as an ATM: Modi

The Prime Minister said the Congress had promised to ban liquor in the state but instead did corruption in the sale of liquor and used the money from the scam to run the party.

PM Narendra Modi with Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel in Raipur, Friday. PTIPM Narendra Modi with Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel in Raipur, Friday. PTI
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Congress sees Chhattisgarh as an ATM: Modi
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THE CONGRESS considers Chhattisgarh as an ATM, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday as he launched a scathing attack on the ruling party in the state, accusing it of involvement in corruption in the multi-crore liquor scam that is being investigated by central agencies.

Addressing a BJP rally in Raipur after laying the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 7,500 crore in the poll-bound state, the Prime Minister said the Congress had promised to ban liquor in the state but instead did corruption in the sale of liquor and used the money from the scam to run the party.

The PM also took a dig at the power tussle between CM Bhupesh Baghel and Deputy CM T S Singhdeo, based on the 2.5 years CM seat sharing formula after the party won 2018 polls. “Due to the fight over liquor scam money, the 2.5 years CM seat formula could not be implemented. Congress sees Chhattisgarh as an ATM. Now you can understand, in the past three or four years, during elections why Congress has been giving responsibilities to its leaders from Chhattisgarh. The last four years show Congress cannot breathe without corruption and it is their ideology,” Modi said.

“They are also playing games with paddy procurement. It was the central government that bought 80% of paddy from the state. In the last nine years, the BJP-led central government has given over Rs 1 lakh crore to paddy farmers. Even this year, Rs 22,000 crore have been given to farmers. The Congress is betraying and lying to paddy farmers,” he said.

Dismissing Modi’s claims, Baghel tweeted: “Modi ji as you came, waves of lies started flowing. State BJP leaders have been misleading farmers that paddy is procured with the Centre’s money. You are the PM, you know the truth, but you also lied.”

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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