The ruling BJP in Rajasthan is leaving no stone unturned to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pachpadra for relaying the foundation stone for the Barmer refinery on January 16 a huge success.
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi had laid the foundatin for the same refinery project in 2013 but the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in Rajasthan is trying to mark it as a maiden political event in the assembly election year.
The BJP wants to put up an impressive show of strength with around three lakh workers and supporters expected to attend the event. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje inspected the refinery site and offered prayers to Sambhara Ashapura, the deity believed to grant all wishes. She also addressed the people after inspecting the preparations for the foundation laying ceremony and urged them to attend the function in large numbers.
Raje also urged party workers to ensure big attendance for PM's event so that it breaks all records and the entire country remembers the event. "Till now the biggest meeting was organised in Udaipur, and this time Barmer meeting should break the record. We are expecting around 3 lakh people to participate from all major districts, including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Pali etc.," state party president Ashok Parnami claimed.
According to party sources, BJP wants the repeat foundation stone laying ceremony to be bigger than the Sonia Gandhi do in 2013.
Cong urges re-think
Meanwhile, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot has urged the Prime Minister to reconsider his decision to relay the foundation stone. Gehlot has also written a letter to Modi requesting him to re-think on the visit.
Gehlot accused Raje for the project's delay, which had resulted in a cost overrun of Rs 6000 crore from Rs 37,000 crore to Rs 43,129 crore.
The former Congress government had signed an MoU with HPCL for putting up the 9MMT capacity refinery and petrochemical complex at a cost of Rs 37,229 crore. Calling it an unhealthy tradition, he criticised Raje for even repeating the mantras and pooja at the same place where it was held four years ago.
The mega show also comes ahead of the byelections to Lok Sabha constituencies Ajmer and Alwar and assembly election of Mandalgarh in Bhilwara on January 29.
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