Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday questioned the haste behind the inauguration of the Barmer refinery project and alleged that the state government invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi before ensuring trial operations were fully completed.
Gehlot Raises Concerns Over Refinery's Preparedness
Reacting to a recent fire incident reported ahead of the Prime Minister's scheduled visit, Gehlot said the episode caused embarrassment to Rajasthan and raised serious questions over the refinery's preparedness. He stated, "Only God knows when the refinery will actually become operational. If trial operations were still being conducted 24-36 hours before the Prime Minister's programme, it clearly means the refinery work was not fully complete."
Allegations of Rushed Inauguration
Gehlot alleged that the government rushed the inauguration under pressure despite delays in operational readiness. He added, "The chief minister should have ensured the project was fully ready before inviting the Prime Minister." The former chief minister also targeted the BJP government over governance issues and paper leak controversies, claiming that ministers lacked authority over their departments and officials were not responding even to senior leaders.
Defense of Previous Government
Referring to previous paper leak cases, Gehlot defended his government, stating that arrests and investigations began during the Congress tenure itself. He emphasized that the current administration should focus on completing projects properly rather than rushing inaugurations for political gains. The fire incident, he argued, highlighted the lack of preparedness and could have been avoided if proper protocols were followed.
