From pucca houses for homeless to probing PSC ‘scam’, PM Modi raises stakes in poll-bound Chhattisgarh  

Asserting that the BJP had always contributed to the development of Chhattisgarh with its initiatives, PM Modi reminded the gathering that Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singh Deo himself had recently admitted that the State faced ‘no discrimination’ from the Centre.

If a BJP government is formed in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, a decision to provide pucca houses to the homeless in the State will be taken in the first meeting of the new cabinet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised on September 30.

Addressing an election rally in Bilaspur, the PM assured the youth of the State that strict action would be taken against the culprits of the alleged Public Service Commission (PSC) scam. The BJP and some of its candidates have been alleging irregularities in selection for the past few months, and a High Court order on September 20 has provided fresh impetus to the party’s aggressive stance.

In its order, the Chhattisgarh High Court directed the State government and the State PSC to “verify” the truth of allegations that a number of candidates selected through the PSC examination in 2021 were relatives of high-ranking government officials, political leaders, and influential businesspersons in the State.

Meanwhile, speaking at an event in Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also vowed to take strict action against anyone found guilty, but added that only people from political parties were making statements on the PSC issue. 

Mr. Modi also sought to blunt the Congress’ claims on paddy procurement, saying that it was the Union government which had bought every grain of paddy from the farmers.

Asserting that the BJP, whether at the Centre or while ruling the State in the past, had always contributed to the development of Chhattisgarh with its initiatives, the Prime Minister reminded the gathering that Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singh Deo himself had recently admitted that the State faced “no discrimination” from the Centre.

Noting that the Congress had reprimanded Mr. Singh Deo for his remarks made during the PM’s last Chhattisgarh visit, Mr. Modi said that when the Deputy Chief Minister had told the truth, it had triggered a storm in the Opposition party’s ranks.