Sharma, Gehlot clash over Pachpadra refinery fire and scam allegations

Jaipur/Jodhpur: In an exchange of political barbs, chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma Wednesday accused the Congress of being embroiled in land scams linked to the HPCL refinery in Balotra’s Pachpadra. The statement came just two days after a fire incident at the facility.

Speaking at a ceremony in Churu where he unveiled a statue of war hero Lt Gen Sagat Singh Rathore, Sharma challenged former CM Ashok Gehlot to account for the Congress party’s alleged misdeeds regarding the refinery. Sharma claimed that the then Congress govt rushed to inaugurate the refinery just days before the 2013 Assembly election code of conduct. “Our PM Modi inaugurated the refinery in 2018, made improvements to it, and ensured that the Rajasthan govt would receive a 26% share for a long time.”

At a separate rally in Jodhpur’s Osian, Sharma repeated allegations of land misallocation and irregularities during the previous Congress govt, calling the refinery one of Rajasthan’s most important assets.

Gehlot rejected the charges, accusing the BJP govt of trying to divert attention from the fire accident and delays in the refinery’s progress. He said no official explanation was yet given for the blaze and described Sharma’s remarks as misleading. Gehlot disputed Sharma’s claims about PM ensuring the state’s 26% equity, saying it was part of the project since 2013.