Jaipur, July 4 (IANS) The inauguration of the Rajasthan Refinery at Pachpadra in Balotra on Saturday became the latest battleground in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Congress political war, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the previous Congress government in Rajasthan of delaying the ambitious project and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot responding with a sharp rebuttal.

Addressing a massive rally after dedicating the refinery to the nation, Prime Minister Modi said the project had lost momentum during the previous Congress government and regained speed only after the BJP returned to power in Rajasthan.

“The refinery project gained momentum as soon as the “double-engine government” was formed,” he said, adding that while many governments only lay foundation stones, BJP governments ensure projects are completed.

The Prime Minister said that the refinery would emerge as a major driver of Rajasthan’s industrial growth, employment generation and economic transformation.

Launching a direct political attack at Congress, PM Modi claimed that although the refinery project had been initiated earlier, work remained virtually stalled during the Congress government between 2018 and 2023.

He contrasted this with the BJP’s governance model, saying the party believes in execution rather than announcements.

“BJP governments do not just lay foundation stones and forget about projects. We work day and night to complete them,” he said.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot dismissed the Prime Minister’s remarks, accusing him of turning an official government function into a political platform.

“It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister behaves like a BJP leader even during government programmes,” Gehlot said.

Rejecting PM Modi’s claim that refinery work had stalled during the Congress government, the former Chief Minister asserted that construction continued even during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He claimed that nearly 85 per cent of the refinery work was completed between 2018 and 2023 and said that the present BJP government itself had announced in its Budget that the project would be completed by August 2025.

“If work had stopped, how was 85 per cent of the project completed?” Gehlot asked, adding that the refinery’s inauguration had itself been delayed by nearly a year.

The Prime Minister also used the occasion to contrast the BJP’s governance philosophy with that of the Congress on issues of water sharing.

Referring to Rajasthan’s long-standing water challenges, PM Modi said Congress governments failed to find lasting solutions, whereas the BJP works on the principle of “Nation First” rather than regional or divisive politics.

Recalling his tenure as the Gujarat Chief Minister, he added that Gujarat and Rajasthan reached an understanding to share Narmada waters without conflict despite water disputes prevailing in several parts of the country.

Looking ahead, PM Modi announced that with BJP governments now in both Rajasthan and Haryana, the two states have finalised an agreement to bring Yamuna water to the water-scarce Shekhawati region.

The rally also carried a significant political message when PM Modi repeatedly acknowledged former Chief Minister and veteran BJP leader Vasundhara Raje’s role in Rajasthan’s development, recalling how they had worked together on both the Narmada water agreement and the Pachpadra Refinery project.

His reference to “Sister Vasundhara Raje” drew loud applause from BJP workers, with many party leaders viewing it as a strong signal of unity within the Rajasthan BJP.

While the refinery’s inauguration marked one of Rajasthan’s biggest industrial milestones, the political messaging overshadowed the ceremony.

The BJP projected the project as proof of the effectiveness of its “double-engine” governance model, while the Congress countered by claiming credit for executing most of the construction work during its tenure.

With both parties staking claim to one of Rajasthan’s largest infrastructure projects, the Pachpadra refinery has become not just an economic landmark but also the latest symbol in the state’s intensifying political contest.

–IANS

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