Overview
- The fire at the HPCL–Rajasthan Oil Refinery in Pachpadra earlier this week forced the postponement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned inauguration.
- Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma accused the previous Congress government and former CM Ashok Gehlot of land scams and delays tied to the project.
- Ashok Gehlot called those charges misleading, said hold-ups occurred under BJP rule, and argued a rushed inauguration plan contributed to the accident.
- The leaders also clashed over the state’s 26% stake, which Gehlot says was set in 2013 as a condition by the Centre and HPCL, a model he says is uncommon because refinery profits swing with the market.
- HPCL has not issued an official cause or damage report, leaving 20,000 workers and nearby communities waiting for clarity on safety and next steps.