Refinery Fire Set to Escalate Troubles
The Sunday Mail
Jaipur: The government led by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma is under immense pressure following a series of attacks by Rajasthan’s former Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot. While various ministers have been deployed to the field to mount a defense, they are struggling to effectively counter the criticism. CM Sharma faces a dilemma: he is at a loss as to how to proceed, as this situation is steadily increasing the number of his detractors within the party. The central leadership, too, is reportedly displeased with him. The fire incident at the refinery could prove to be a heavy burden for him, as former CM Gehlot has successfully turned it into a major political issue. All indications suggest that the matter is becoming increasingly serious. The CM’s media team, too, has proven to be a complete flop.
During a press conference held at his residence on Tuesday, former CM Gehlot raised a host of issues, effectively cornering the government. The Congress party even broadcast this press conference of Gehlot’s on its national platform.
Commenting on the fire incident at a critical project like the refinery, Gehlot remarked that it was either a result of negligence or stemmed from pressure to expedite the work. Citing the government’s penchant for “Intzar-Shastra” (the ‘Doctrine of Waiting’), he took the administration to task, stating that—aside from mere rhetoric—no tangible progress is visible on the ground. Expressing deep concern over the refinery fire, Ashok Gehlot revealed that he had consulted with an expert chemical engineer from Australia regarding the matter. He stated, “According to experts, a fire breaking out in a 20–25-year-old refinery due to technical reasons is conceivable; however, such an incident occurring in a new refinery is highly unusual. In their view, the fire in the new refinery was likely caused either by an oversight or by the psychological pressure to complete the work in haste.”
**The ‘Intzaar Shastra’ Series and the Government’s Failure:**
Describing his social media series, *Intzaar Shastra* (The Science of Waiting)—which highlights the current dilapidated state of public-interest projects initiated during the Congress government’s tenure—as immensely popular, former Chief Minister Mr. Gehlot adopted a firm stance against the frivolous remarks made by BJP leaders. He asserted that the *Intzaar Shastra* series has forced the entire government onto the defensive; while they engaged in plenty of rhetoric, they failed to provide factual answers regarding when specific projects would actually commence. He emphasized that it is the government’s duty to provide such answers.
**Payment Crisis in the PHED and Contractors’ Ultimatum:**
Raising another critical issue, he noted that contractors across the state are now in a mood for a decisive showdown, as payments amounting to approximately ₹4,500 crore have been stalled within the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) for the past 33 months. During a press conference held in Jaipur, contractors and industrial associations issued a stern ultimatum to the government, warning that they would launch a ‘No Payment, No Work’ campaign and a ‘Stop Water Supply’ agitation.
**The Very Purpose for Which the RGHS Scheme Was Launched Is Being Undermined:**
*Raising a strong voice in the interest of farmers, Mr. Gehlot has demanded a waiver of farm loans. He stated that farmers today are under immense pressure and facing severe hardships. He argued that farm loans should be waived once again, following the exact same pattern and methodology that was successfully implemented during the previous loan waiver scheme. Responding to the Chief Minister’s recent remark regarding farmers—specifically the claim that a farmer works for only twenty to twenty-five days a year—he asserted that the Chief Minister has deeply insulted the farming community, and this statement has sparked widespread outrage among farmers.
Women’s Reservation: Addressing the BJP’s Misleading ClaimsThe Unmasking
Terming the facts being presented by the BJP regarding the issue of women’s reservation as misleading, Mr. Gehlot clarified the situation. He stated that the bills recently introduced in Parliament pertained to issues related to delimitation. Emphasizing the actual state of affairs, Mr. Gehlot pointed out that the Women’s Reservation Bill had already been unanimously passed by both Houses of Parliament in September 2023 and had subsequently acquired the force of law. Questioning the intentions of the NDA government, Mr. Gehlot remarked that despite the passage of three years, the notification for this law had not been issued until now, with the notification finally being released only recently. Mr. Gehlot characterized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent address to the nation as politically motivated, asserting that it is unprecedented to deliver a political speech during an address to the nation. He noted that, regarding the issue of women’s reservation, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Rahul Gandhi, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, had called for an all-party meeting; however, the government chose to disregard the Opposition’s demand. While discussing women’s reservation, Mr. Gehlot also drew attention to the fact that, at a time when crimes against women are on the rise, the post of Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission remains vacant.
**Delay in Panchayat and Urban Local Body Elections is Constitutionally Unjustified:**
Expressing strong objection to the delay in elections for Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies, Mr. Gehlot stated that, in accordance with the provisions of Article 243 of the Constitution and the clear directives of the Rajasthan High Court, these elections should have been concluded by now. He asserted that such disregard for constitutional mandates runs contrary to democratic norms.
Mr. Gehlot recalled an instance during the tenure of a previous Congress government when an appeal was made to postpone elections due to a strike; however, the Court dismissed the appeal, and the elections were subsequently held.
