BJP leaders vie to mobilise crowd for Modi's foundation relaying in Barmer

As the countdown begins for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pachpadra to kick-start the work on Barmer refinery in Rajasthan on January 16, leaders in the BJP-ruled state vie with one another to mobilise crowd for the foundation relaying ceremony.

The project, costing Rs 43,129 crore, will now have two foundation stones - the first laid by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on September 22, 2013, and the second to be laid by Modi on Tuesday.  

The function will be presided over by the Prime Minister and graced by state Governor Kalyan Singh, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, six Central ministers and 13 ministers of Rajasthan government along with the local MP.

 

On Monday, Raje visited Balotara Pachpadra in Barmer district and took stock of preparations for the function. Modi is scheduled to arrive at Pachpadra post noon by an Air Force helicopter and reach the function venue by road. He will unveil a plaque to mark commencement of work and is expected to address the gathering before returning to Delhi.

 

 BJP leaders vie

 

Modi's Barmer visit has set off a competition among BJP leaders in Rajasthan to show their clout. Leaders from Jodhpur, Barmer, Pali, Jalore, Sirohi and Jaisalmer have set a target for mobilising crowds to enter the good books of the state president and the chief minister. Jodhpur district leaders are claiming they would mobilise 3 lakh people for Modi's public meeting.

 

Rajasthan has significant reserves of oil and gas. The Barmer Refinery cum Petrochemical Complex will be the state's first and have a capacity of 9 MMTPA. The product output from the refinery would conform to the advanced BS-VI emission norms. The project is a Joint Venture of HPCL and Government of Rajasthan.

 

However, the Congress has alleged that the commencement of work on the refinery was delayed with an eye on elections in the state. Assembly polls are slated this year and Lok Sabha bypolls to the Alwar and Ajmer seats would be held on January 29.