Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday blamed the previous Congress government in Rajasthan for the delay in the Pachpadra refinery project. Speaking after inaugurating the country's first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in the Balotra area, Modi stated that although an agreement for the project was signed in 2017, progress slowed significantly between 2018 and 2023 under the Congress government.
Modi's Remarks on Project Delay
“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,” said Modi. He acknowledged the massive public gathering in Balotra and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth around Rs 1.06 lakh crore.
Modi underscored the refinery's role in driving India’s broader mission toward holistic development and economic independence. “This massive refinery will serve as a permanent medium of employment for thousands of people, and I especially congratulate the youth of Rajasthan for this achievement,” he said.
Youth Empowerment and Government Jobs
Highlighting a push toward youth empowerment and administrative efficiency, Modi formally recognized the distribution of government job appointment letters to approximately 54,000 young candidates across Rajasthan. He extended his congratulations as they began their public service careers.
Gehlot's Rebuttal
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot refuted Modi’s comments as “misleading” and stated that 85% of the project was completed during the Congress rule. In a statement, Gehlot said it was “unfortunate” that the prime minister behaved like a BJP leader even during official programmes and was making “misleading” statements at a government function. “These claims sound ridiculous. The prime minister should have spoken to people associated with the refinery project,” the senior Congress leader said.
