dc correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The ruling BJD and BJP leaders in Odisha continue to indulge in the war of words over the inauguration of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL)’s Paradip refinery as each tried to claim the credit for mega-plant.
On Wednesday, the BJD leaders issued statements claiming the state government’s contribution in developing Paradip town and facilitating the plant.
In no mood to cede an inch, the BJP leaders reminded the contribution of their party leaders to build Paradip as the gateway of investment in eastern India.
“Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone of the plant. The present Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate it to the nation. Both of them are from BJP. Why should BJP not take credit for it?,” questioned BJP national secretary Suresh Pujari.
“The oil refinery is anyway a national project and a matter of pride for the state. It is inferiority complex on part of those who are playing politics on the plant.
She, who delivered the baby, should get the maternal rights. Attempting to take credit on everything is ridiculous,” Mr Pujari said while taking a jibe at the BJD.
The BJD struck back saying there would have been no IOCL refinery in Paradip if the port town was not developed as a model industrial area.
“As a national project, it is indeed a matter of pride for Odisha. Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal deserves the honour as it developed Paradip as an ideal economic hub. There would be no IOCL refinery without Paradip being developed as model industrial area. There is always a mother to the mother,” retorted BJD spokesperson Shashi Bhusan Behera.
BJD vice-president Dr Damodar Rout said Odisha had given land, water, electricity and all other required support for construction of the refinery project. Hence, the NDA government’s sole claim of credit for the project was misplaced and unjustified, too.
Meanwhile, Jagatsin-ghpur district collector on Wednesday detained a campaign vehicle of IOCL on the charge of violation of advertisement guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.
The vehicle fitted with audio-visual gadgets and images of Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan was marching in the district to draw crowd to the February 7 oil refinery commissioning ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on February 7 dedicate the Rs 35,000-crore refinery to the nation.
