nChief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday accused the Modi government of creating hurdles in the path of the Chhattisgarh government, not even responding to letters raising issues concerning the state.
Baghel told an electronic media channel: “I have been writing constantly to the Prime Minister and Union ministers on various issues regarding the state but I am yet to get an answer.”
He said one such issue is non-availability of gunny bags for paddy procurement. The other is grant of permission to manufacture ethanol in the state using excess paddy. The Central excise share due to the state has not been given yet.
Taking a jibe on the ‘Gujarat Model’, he said in the last seven years no one has known what the model is. Now, even BJP leaders refrain from commenting on it.
No investment is visible anywhere in the country. Poverty, malnutrition and unemployment have soared in the last seven years, he said.
On the Chhattisgarh model, Baghel said the focus is on increasing the income of the people. It began with a loan waiver of farmers and paddy procurement at Rs 2,500 per quintal on minimum support price.
The consequence was that the state witnessed growth in every sector in the last three years, be it textile, automobile or real estate. There was no impact on the state's economy even during the pandemic.
Apart from it, Rs 7,000 crores have been given as input subsidy against paddy procurement to the farmers.
The Congress believes in secularism and cultural values. It serves the cow but does not seek voters in its name, he said.