‘Whatever we asked, PM gave’: In Singh Deo praise for Modi, a ‘dig’ at rival Baghel

Singh Deo, who holds the Health portfolio, was present for the event in Raigadh where Modi announced several rail and health initiatives for Chhattisgarh. The Deputy CM began his speech by welcoming Modi, and said: “You have come here today to give something. You have given a lot of things to Chhattisgarh, and I trust that in the future too, you will keep providing us with more.”

Singh Deo then thanked Modi for the announcements of a rail corridor, nine critical care blocks, and sickle cell cards for better identification and treatment of patients. Pointing out that most patients of sickle cell anaemia belong to tribal and backward communities, he said: “We have always worked under the guidance of the Central government, and I do not want to miss out on saying that, in my experience, I did not feel any partiality… In the state, when we asked for something from the Central government, they… never denied help. And I believe that going forward, the state and Centre will work together in all the fields to take our country and state forward.”

Modi acknowledged Singh Deo’s praise with folded hands and bowed head, and later, shook hands to thank him.

As the BJP quickly circulated the video of the two of them together, and the Congress struggled to explain Singh Deo’s remarks, the Deputy CM told The Indian Express: “There is a tradition of hospitality in our state. Things were said at a government forum keeping in mind the dignity of the Prime Minister. I did not want to get involved in allegations and counter-allegations at the platform. My statement was only related to the demands of my department.”

However, few see the development as this benign. Since the Congress came to power in Chhattisgarh in 2018, Singh Deo has been disgruntled over being denied the chief ministership. Meanwhile, having pipped Singh Deo to the post, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has concentrated power with him in the government and the state unit.

It was only recently that the Congress was seen to have bought peace between the two rivals, with Singh Deo accepting the post of Deputy CM.

BJP social media handles shared the video of Singh Deo and Modi, with a question to Baghel: “When will you apologize to the people of Chhattisgarh for misleading them about the Central government?”

A Congress spokesperson said that too much should not be read into Singh Deo’s remarks, and said he was just being gracious as he was sharing the stage at a government event with the country’s PM. The party’s media cell in-charge, Sushil Anand Shukla, said: “Singh Deo-ji was sharing the stage with the PM and hence he was being diplomatic.”

But what was also striking is that Singh Deo seemed to be speaking in direct contradiction to Baghel, who constantly criticises the Centre and accuses it of non-cooperation on issues, and of not giving the mineral-rich state its due.

Earlier this year, the CM had said: “The Centre is yet to pay Chhattisgarh coal royalty dues worth over Rs 4,000 crore. GST dues and Central excise dues are pending. Coal and steel from Chhattisgarh are transported across India and massive structures are made using this steel and electricity… We get very less in return.”

In recent days, Baghel has shot off letters to Modi raising issues such as cancellation of passenger trains to Chhattisgarh, alleged corruption involving the previous BJP government in the state, and the privatization of the Nagarnar steel plant. The CM has also taken on the government over the action against his government by Central agencies, with several of his close aides on the Enforcement Directorate radar.

BJP MLA Brijmohan Agrawal cited Singh Deo’s remarks for the PM to call Baghel “a fox in the skin of a lion”. “Singh Deo-ji today accepted the truth that the Central government never discriminated against the Chhattisgarh government,” he said.