Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Rajasthan, a dispute arose between former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and current Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma regarding the history and credit for the Pachpadra Refinery in Balotra district. The controversy began when Chief Minister Sharma claimed that PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the refinery in 2018, sparking a response from Gehlot who refuted the claim, citing a foundation-laying ceremony in 2013 attended by prominent leaders.
Former Chief Minister Gehlot shared photographs from the alleged 2013 event, attended by Sonia Gandhi and M. Veerappa Moily, to support his assertion that the project was initiated during the Congress government. He criticized the BJP governments, stating that delays under their rule led to a significant cost escalation for the project, impacting the state financially.
Gehlot emphasized the challenges faced in establishing Rajasthan’s first integrated greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in a desert region. He highlighted the successful negotiation by the Congress government for a 26% stake in the project, leading to the formation of HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) in collaboration with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).
In conclusion, Gehlot urged Chief Minister Sharma to verify official files and records before making public statements about the project to ensure the dissemination of accurate information and prevent historical distortions.
