No proposal, no intention to privatise Singareni Collieries: Modi

RAMAGUNDAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday emphatically stated that there was no proposal with the Centre to privatise the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and appealed to the people to not be swayed by rumours in this regard.

The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited here. Addressing a public meeting at the NTPC Township grounds after a tour of the factory, Modi said that the Centre did not even have any such intention on SCCL.

In a snide remark against the TRS leadership, he said: "Canards are being spread that the Centre would be privatising the SCCL. And people sitting in Hyderabad are giving wings to these rumours and giving different colours to it. Today, let me tell you a fact or the biggest lie. The Telangana Government holds 51 percent stakes in SCCL while the Centre has 49 percent. The Centre can never take any decision related to the privatisation of SCCL on its own. Don't be swayed by these rumours and let the merchants of lies be confined to Hyderabad only," the Prime Minister commented.

Modi's categorical statement on SCCL assumed significance in the wake of reports of likely protests by the SCCL workers over the rumoured privatisation moves by the Centre.

Narendra Modi also detailed the painstaking efforts by his government at the Centre in addressing the fertiliser crisis and the reforms brought in for the betterment of the sector.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually unveiled the plaque and dedicated to the nation the Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL). The plant was renovated at a cost of Rs 6,338 crores.

The Prime Minister also commissioned the new Bhadrachalam-Sattupally railway line besides virtually laying foundation stones for the construction of three stretches of the national highway in Telangana.

He began his speech in Telugu saying, "Ee sabhaku vicchesina rythulu, sodara sodarimanulaku naa namaskaramulu."

Bharat Urea will be the only brand in India in future

Narendra Modi said that the RFCL, new railway line and roads would immensely benefit Telangana while raising the living standards in the state.

"Experts say India has emerged as the third largest economy in the world. In the last eight years, our Government has brought in multiple reforms across sectors. We were able to curtail blackmarketing of fertilisers and its adulteration. Unlike the scenario before 2014, we never confined ourselves merely to laying foundations and worked tirelessly to complete the projects. Our Government accorded the highest priority to the creation of infrastructure, even for fertilisers. The commissioning of RFCL, works for which were started in 2016, is a good example of our commitment.

"Even while importing urea and other fertilisers at heavy costs, our Government did not give up on subsidising it to farmers for as low as Rs 240. We have taken adequate measures to ensure the farmers did not suffer due to fertiliser scarcity. About 70 lakh tonnes of urea is being produced in fertiliser plants located in five different parts of the country. In future, the country will have only one brand under the name Bharat Urea," the Prime Minister said.

Tamil Nadu Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Union Minister Kishan Reddy, BJP Telangana President Bandi Sanjay and a host of party leaders took part in the event.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and the TRS have boycotted the Prime Minister's visit. On behalf of the State Government, Minister for Animal Husbandry Talasani Srinivas Yadav received Modi on the latter's arrival at the Begumpet.

Scores of CPI leaders including its national secretary Narayana were arrested across Telangana when they tried to stage protests against the visit of Narendra Modi.