Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel responded to former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s criticism of the Rajasthan Refinery project, stating that the original agreement signed by the Congress government was not beneficial for the state. Patel emphasized that the revised agreement under the BJP government was designed to protect Rajasthan’s rights and advantages. He highlighted that without the changes made in 2017, Rajasthan would have received minimal benefits from the project despite owning the land, water, and crude oil resources.
Patel urged Gehlot to compare the Congress-era MoU with the updated agreement before making public comments. In contrast, Gehlot had previously praised the refinery as a symbol of Rajasthan’s progress and economic prospects during his second term as Chief Minister. He mentioned the efforts made by the Congress government to bring the project to the state, including interventions by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Gehlot criticized the BJP for delaying the refinery project for almost five years after coming to power in 2013, resulting in a significant cost increase. He noted that despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, substantial progress was made on the project between 2018 and 2023 when the Congress returned to power. However, he expressed disappointment over missed deadlines for commercial production, urging the state government to expedite the inauguration for operational commencement.
