Modi, Congress spar over credit for Rajasthan refinery as PM dedicates project to nation

Balotra/New Delhi: The inauguration of Rajasthan's first integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex on Saturday triggered a political exchange between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, with both leaders staking claim to the project's progress while accusing the other of delaying its execution.

Dedicating the country's first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex to the nation at Pachpadra in Balotra district, Modi alleged that the project suffered major delays during the Congress government in Rajasthan between 2018 and 2023.

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The prime minister said although an agreement for the project had been signed earlier, work slowed considerably due to what he described as a lack of cooperation from the then state government.

"Because of the Congress government's lack of cooperation, work on the project almost came to a standstill. After the double-engine government came to power, work gathered pace. Today we are dedicating the project to the nation. We not only lay foundation stones but also complete and inaugurate projects," Modi said.

The remarks drew a sharp response from Gehlot, who accused the prime minister of making "misleading" claims at an official government function.

In a statement, the former chief minister said it was "unfortunate" that Modi had chosen to make political remarks during the inauguration and maintained that the refinery project had made substantial progress under the Congress government.

Gehlot claimed that despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 85 percent of the project was completed during the Congress tenure from 2018 to 2023.

He also pointed out that the BJP government had itself announced in its Budget that the refinery would be completed by August 2025, arguing that this showed the project had been delayed even after the change of government.

Calling the prime minister's remarks "ridiculous", Gehlot said those associated with the project were aware of its actual progress.

Earlier in the day, Gehlot described the commissioning of the refinery as a "historic day" for Rajasthan and reiterated that the project was conceived and initiated during the Congress government.

He said efforts to establish a refinery in the state began after the Congress assumed office in 2008 and credited former UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and former petroleum ministers Murli Deora and M Veerappa Moily for facilitating the project.

According to Gehlot, the refinery project was inaugurated in 2013 by Sonia Gandhi and Veerappa Moily but remained stalled for several years due to political reasons, leading to cost escalation.

He said work resumed on priority after the Congress returned to power in Rajasthan in 2018 and that the bulk of the project's construction was completed during that period.

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Gehlot also said the Congress government had planned a petrochemical zone alongside the refinery to promote downstream plastic-based industries and generate large-scale employment. While land had been earmarked for the project, he alleged that the proposal had since been sidelined.

He urged the government to expedite the petrochemical zone and ensure that industries established there provide priority to entrepreneurs and job seekers from Rajasthan.

The refinery project, one of the state's largest industrial investments, is expected to boost fuel production, petrochemical manufacturing and industrial development in western Rajasthan, while the political contest over its execution is likely to continue.

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