Sonia Gandhi lays foundation stone for refinery-cum-petrochemical project in Barmar, Rajasthan

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation for a Rs 37,229 crore refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, a joint project of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government, at Pachpadra in Barmer district in Rajasthan. "This project is the result of the positive vision for development of the Centre as well as the Rajasthan Government. This project will attract new refinery and petro chemical and engineering industries in the state and will open new development arenas not only in this region but across Rajasthan" said the Congress President.

Sonia Gandhi lays foundation stone for refinery-cum-petrochemical project in Rajasthan

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation for a Rs 37,229 crore refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, a joint project of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government, at Pachpadra in Barmer district in Rajasthan.

“This project is the result of the positive vision for development of the Centre as well as the Rajasthan Government. This project will attract new refinery and petro chemical and engineering industries in the state and will open new development arenas not only in this region but across Rajasthan” said the Congress President.

Sonia Gandhi enlisted various development initiatives of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre like MNREGA, RTI, Mid-day meal scheme and also talked about the Food Security and Land Bills. “We still have people who suffer from malnutrition and poverty. We, therefore, got the Food Security Bill passed in the Parliament by which more than 80 crore people, both in rural and urban areas, will be benefitted” said Sonia Gandhi.  Underlining the Congress’ commitment for farmers’ she added “The last bill passed by the Parliament during the recent session – the Land Acquisition Bill - is aimed at protecting the interests of our farmers. This is a historic bill which ensures that no one can grab poor farmer’s land forcibly”.

“All our policies are aimed at empowering the weaker section of the societies - the women, tribals, adivasis and underprivileged. We always believed in inclusive growth and overall development. This will be possible only if communal harmony, brotherhood and secularism exist in the society. This is possible only if we have a society which is united and people who are helping each other. This is what we believe in and this is our tradition” added the Congress President.
Praising the Gehlot Government   in the state Sonia Gandhi said “I take this opportunity to congratulate Ashok Gehlot led Congress Government in the state for its various pro-poor social welfare measures.. Rajasthan is the first state where the poor gets free-medicines.”

The proposed refinery will be a subsidiary of HPCL with its equity of 74 percent to be held by HPCL and 26 percent to be held by the government of Rajasthan. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 37,230 crore. The project cost is proposed to be sourced with a debt/equity ratio of 1.5:1. Total equity component is Rs.14,892 crore and debt is Rs.22,338 crore. HPCL's equity contribution is Rs.11,020 crore at 74% equity and Govt. of Rajasthan's equity contribution is Rs.3,872 crore at 26%.

There shall be a direct and indirect economic benefit to the economy of Rajasthan, which shall, besides industrialization, result in substantial increase in income, output, employment and tax earnings of the state.

Text of Sonia Gandhi’s speech

I thank you all for waiting for me since long, under hot sun. I am very happy to be here on this precious occasion to lay the foundation stone for this 37000 cr worth refinery and petro chemical complex here which will generate about 25000 new jobs. This will be the first refinery in the country to refine the crude oil and this project will bring more prosperity in the state. This project is the result of the positive vision for development by the Centre as well as the Rajasthan Government. This project will attract new refinery and petro chemical and engineering industries in the state and will open new development arenas not only in this region but across Rajasthan.

The UPA Government at the Centre, under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh, has taken several revolutionary development initiatives. We haven give priority for the welfare of the backward and underprivileged and several policies and schemes were made in this direction. The Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme guarantees minimum 100-days jobs to the rural poor. To eradicate corruption, we implemented Right to Information law, by which anyone can get any information about the government functioning. Further, we provide free mid-day meal to the school children and also ensured free education to all students in the age group of 6 to 14. The Central government also have enacted many laws and schemes to empower the women in our country and we made it possible for them to get cheaper loans through Self Help Groups (SHG).   

We still have people who suffer from malnutrition and poverty. We, therefore, got the Food Security Bill passed in the Parliament by which more than 80 crore people, both in rural and urban areas, will be benefitted. This law will guarantee food grains at subsidized rates for the poor in the country. There are complaints of large-scale corruption in the existing PDS system and therefore, the new Food Security Bill also has the focus to reform the PDS system. The benefit of this new scheme will reach to the real beneficiaries directly through Aadhar. I have told in the Parliament that several people questioned this Food Security Bill asking from where we will have money for it. They also asked whether this scheme will benefit the farmers.  My answer to them was that we must find resources, by any means, for this.

As far as the farmers are concerned, the UPA Government made several policies and schemes for the benefit of the farmers; we never ignored them and would never do so. Even the last bill passed by the Parliament during the recent session – the Land Acquisition Bill - is aimed at protecting the interests of our farmers. This is a historic bill which ensures that no one can grab poor farmer’s land forcibly. Even if any land is to be acquired, the consent of the land owners is mandatory now and land can be acquired only after paying the adequate price.

All our policies are aimed at empowering the weaker section of the societies - the women, tribals, adivasis and underprivileged. We always believed in inclusive growth and overall development. This will be possible only if communal harmony, brotherhood and secularism exist in the society. This is possible only if we have a society which is united and people who are helping each other. This is what we believe in and this is our tradition.

Our duty is to serve the people and that is what Congress has been doing. I take this opportunity to congratulate Ashok Gehlot led Congress Government in the state for its various pro-poor social welfare measures. The state government has been giving special attention to the matters like food, education, health, electricity and drinking water. Rajasthan is the first state where the poor gets free-medicines.  The state government has made several similar policies for the benefits of the people in the state and I am confident that the government will continue with such development measures.

Today, on this occasion of the foundation-stone-laying of this refinery project in Barmer, I can proudly say that the state will get more revenue by this project and this revenue can be used for the benefits of the poor and aam aadmi. I congratulate all the people on this occasion and I also express my gratitude to the Petroleum Minister, Chief Minister and all others related to this achievement.  I am hopeful that this region as well as your beautiful state will reach new heights of development by this and this will bring new hopes to the lives of the people. We are committed to serve you more and will continue to do so.
Thank you. Jai Hind.

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Sonia Gandhi in Rajasthan, lays foundation stone for Barmar refinery-cum-petrochemical project

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Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation for a Rs 37,229 crore refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, a joint project of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government, at Pachpadra in Barmer district in Rajasthan. “This project is the result of the positive vision for development of the Centre as well as the Rajasthan Government. This project will attract new refinery and petro chemical and engineering industries in the state and will open new development arenas not only in this region but across Rajasthan” said the Congress President.

Sonia Gandhi at Rajasthan lays foundation-stone for refinery project at Pachpadra

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation for a Rs 37,229 crore refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, a joint project of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government, at Pachpadra in Barmer district in Rajasthan.

Sonia Gandhi in Mizoram addresses public meeting after launching food security programme

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Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday addressed a public meeting at Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, after laying the foundation stone for construction of a new Sainik School at Chhingchhip, besides making public announcement for the implementation of the Food Security Bill in the State. Sonia Gandhi also launched the fourth phase of New Land Use Policy (NLUP), flagship programme of the ruling Congress in the state.

यूपीए अध्यक्ष सोनिया गांधी ने मिजोरम में खाद्य सुरक्षा योजना का शुभारंभ किया और जनता को संबोधित किया

मुझे खुशी महसूस हो रही है इस खुबसूरत राज्य में वापस आकर। यह राज्य हमारे देश की शान है और यहा के लोग काफी मेहनती और प्रतिभावान हैं। हमने यहा अभी नए सैनिक स्कूल की नींव रखी है और हम सब को पता है की शिक्षा के जरिये ही बच्चों का भविष्य सुनहरा हो सकता है। खेल-कूद, संगीत, अध्ययन समेत कई क्षेत्रों में यहा के नौजवान काफी रुची रखते हैं। जरुरी है इनको प्रोत्साहित करना और सहारा देना। मुझे उम्मीद है की इस स्कूल के जरिये बच्चों को अच्छी शिक्षा मिलेगी और यह संभव हो सकेगा की विद्यार्थी अपनी प्रतिभा में और निखार ला पाए। मैं उन सब लोगों का धन्यवाद देना चाहती हूं जिन्होंने अपना जमीन दिया और स्कूल बनाने में मद्द की।
हमारे देश ने तरक्की की और आगे बढ़ा लेकिन इसके बावजूद ऐसे भी लोग है जो भूखे रहते हैं। इस समस्या से निपटने के लिए हमने लोकसभा में खाद्य सुरक्षा विधेयक पास किया। इस विधेयक के चलते हमारे देश के गरीबों और जरुरतमंदों को बहुस सस्ते दामों में गेहुँ, चावल और मोटा अनाज मिलेगा। मुझे खुशी हो रही है मिजोरम में खाद्य सुरक्षा विधेयक को लागू करने में और इससे यहा के शहरी और ग्रामीण क्षेत्र के लोगों को काफी फायदा होगा। जैसा की मुख्यमंत्री जी ने भी कहा, आज हम यह भी ऐलान करना चाहते हैं की केंद्र सरकार ने 210 मेगावाट हाइडर पॉवर प्लांट का रास्ता साफ कर दिया है।
मिजोरम की जनता भ्रष्टाचार मुक्त प्रशासन चाहती थी इसलिए उन्होंने पांच साल पहले कांग्रेस पार्टी को मौका दिया। मुझे लगता है की हम जनता के विश्वास पर खड़े उतरे। पहली बार एसा हुआ की राज्य में आचार समिति है जो बड़े-बड़े घोटालों को उजागर करता है और सूचना का अधिकार कानून उसके साथ मिलकर राज्य में अच्छा शुसासन देने में कारगर साबित हुआ। मूझे मालूम है की कोई भी इस सरकार की कार्यशैली पर उंगली नहीं उठा सकता।  
न्यू लैंड यूज पॉलिसी बहुत ही लोकप्रिय है और ग्रामीण इलाकों के विकास के लिए राज्य सरकार ने यह पॉलिसी लागू की थी, जिसका लाभ ग्रामीण क्षेत्र के लाखों लोगों को मिला। न्यू लैंड यूज पॉलिसी के चौथे चरण का उद्घाटन आज हो गया। हमने आपसे वादा किया था कि आर्थिक स्थिति को ठीक करेंगे और मुझे विश्वास है की राज्य सरकार ने पिछले पांच साल में बेहतरीन काम किया है। बिजली पैदा करने के लिए कई योजनाएं लागू हुई क्योकि छोटे व्यवसायों और किसानों की अच्छी आर्थिक स्थिति के लिए बिजली जरुरी है। ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों की सड़कों को ठीक किया गया। उद्यानकृषि की ओर भी ध्यान दिया गया। पूरे देश में स्ट्रबेरी और फूल की काफी मांग है।
पिछले कुछ सालों में यूपीए सरकार द्वारा पूरी कोशिश की गई की बंगलादेश, थाईलैंड और म्यामार जैसे देशों से अच्छें संबंध बन सके क्योकि हमें विश्वास था की यह मिजोरम के लिए फायदेमंद साबित होगा। इस बात से अवगत हूं की मिजोरम को इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर के लिए केंद्र से और आर्थिक मद्द की जरुरत है। मैं आपको बताना चाहती हूं की प्रधानमंत्री को पता है की मिजोरम को और किस चीज की आवश्यकता है और मुझे विश्वास है की आपकी हर जरुरत को पूरा किया जायेगा। मिजोरम में लोगों के बीच बहुत एकजुटता है और यहा सब शांतिपूर्वक रहते हैं। यहा के लोग बिना डर हुए अपनी जिंदगी व्यतीत कर रहे हैं। कुछ राज्यों में तनाव का माहौल रहता है और किसी न किसी बात पर लोगों में तकरार चलता रहता है। लेकिन मिजोरम के बारे में मैं गर्व से कह सकती हूं की मिजोरम एक मॉडल है दूसरे राज्यों के लिए और उनको इस राज्य से सीख लेनी चाहिए।
पिछले पांच सालों में हमने अच्छा काम किया और जनता की उम्मीदों पर खड़े उतरे। हमने पूरी जिम्मेदारी और पारदर्शीता के साथ काम किया और इसी तरीकें से हम आगे भी काम करना चाहते हैं। हमने एसा काम किया है जिसमें सभी वर्गों के लोगों की बात सुनी गई। अच्छी शिक्षा व्यवस्था, स्वास्थ्य योजनाएं और रोजगार के अवसरों के कारण लोगों कि जिंदगी और बेहतर हो सकी। हम इसी दिशा में आगे भी काम करना चाहते हैं। कांग्रेस पार्टी का हमेशा से मिजोरम के साथ अच्छा संबंध रहा है और मेरे दिल में यहा के लोगों के लिए विशेष जगह है। राज्य में फिर से सरकार बनाने के लिए हमें आपका साथ चाहिए। आपकी चिंताओं पर गौर किया जाएगा और आपकी आवाज सुनी जाएगी।
धन्यवाद, जय हिंद।

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Sonia Gandhi in Mizoram people urges people to support Congress

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday addressed a public meeting at Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, after laying the foundation stone for construction of a new Sainik School besides making public announcement for the implementation of the Food Security Bill in the State. Sonia Gandhi also launched the fourth phase of New Land Use Policy (NLUP), flagship programme of the ruling Congress in the state.

Striking an emotional chord with the people of Mizoram, Sonia Gandhi started “I am delighted to be back in this beautiful state, a state that is the pride of our country, the state that enriches our glorious diversities, the state of hardworking and talented people.”

Launching the state government’s Food Security programme the UPA Chairperson said “We all know that in spite of the progress made in our country we still have people who are malnourished and grow hungry and that is why we have passed the Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha that will provide rice and other groceries at a very low price to the most needed people of our country. And it is my please to also launch the Food Security programme here in Mizoram, where a huge number of people by which good number people from both rural and urban area will be the beneficiaries”.

While announcing the launch of the fourth phase of NLUP programme, Sonia Gandhi said “The National Land Use Programme, or NLUP as it is popularly known, was also a commitment in our manifesto and I believe that this too has been fulfilled in a very substantial measure. NLUP has generated new prosperity in rural areas and already over one lakh families have benefitted from it”.
“In the past few years, our UPA government has made special efforts to build a close relationship with countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand because we believe that this will be a great advantage for Mizoram.  The Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project is approaching its completion and this project will improve connectivity to the entire North-Eastern region through Mizoram,” informed the Congress President.

Sonia Gandhi continued, “Congress party is seeking a new mandate. We are seeking this renewed mandate on the basis of our performance over the decades but particularly over the past five years”. The Congress leader concluded her speech by assuring all support to the people of Mizoram.
“On behalf of the Congress party, that has always had a special relationship with Mizoram, and on my own behalf because I always have a special place in my heart for the people of Mizoram, I seek your support for another term and I can tell you that your concerns will be our priorities; your voices will be our guide” said Sonia Gandhi concluding her address.
Mizoram is likely to go for Assembly elections either at the end of October or in early November.

Text of Sonia Gandhi’s speech

I am delighted to be back in this beautiful state, a state that is the pride of our country, the state that enriches our glorious diversities, the state of hardworking and talented people. We have just laid the foundation stone for a new Sainik School and we all know that education is the key to bright future of our children.

Young people here excel in so many spheres, in sports, in music, in studies.. It is important to encourage them and support them at all times.  I hope that this school will provide the best education and make it possible for the students to exploit their talent and full potential. I must convey my deep appreciation to all persons for so generously donating the land and helping to construct the school.

We all know that in spite of the progress made in our country we still have people who are malnourished and grow hungry and that is why we have passed the Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha that will provide rice and other groceries at a very low price to the most needed people of our country. And it is my please to also launch the Food Security programme here in Mizoram, where a huge number of people by which good number people from both rural and urban area will be the beneficiaries. As the Chief Minister has just mentioned, we also announce today that 210 MW hydel power plant has been cleared by the Central government. 
Friends, Five years ago, the people of Mizoram gave the Congress party a mandate to give a corruption free administration. I think that mandate has been fulfilled. For the first time, the state has an ethic committee that acts as a watchdog against corruption in higher places. This committee includes representatives of all churches and also people from some prominent NGOs and I believe that combined by the RTI this has transformed governance in the state and I know today nobody can point an accusing finger to the government.

The National Land Use Programme, or NLUP as it is popularly known, was also a commitment in our manifesto and I believe that this too has been fulfilled in a very substantial measure. NLUP has generated new prosperity in rural areas and already over one lakh families have benefitted from it. May of them have opened their own bank account for the first time. The bru refugees returning who were among the poorest of the poor will also be covered by NLUP. The fourth phase of NLUP has also been launched today.

We also had promised to revive the economic growth. I believe the progress made in the past five years is there to all of you to see. A number of projects to generate electricity have been taken up as electricity is essential for economic growth for small-medium industries, for farmers and for all people in general.   Seven rivers have been harnessed for generating power and in manner that will fully protect the environment. Rural roads have been constructed to improve the connectivity. The use of bamboo has received a major boost; advances have also been made in horticulture where fruits especially strawberry and flowers are in great demand across the country.

In the past few years, our UPA government has made special efforts to build a close relationship with countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand because we believe that this will be a great advantage for Mizoram.  The Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project is approaching its completion and this project will improve connectivity to the entire North-Eastern region through Mizoram.
I am fully aware that the Chief Minister has mentioned that Mizoram needs more financial help for infrastructure from the Centre and I can tell you that the Prime Minister is fully ceased of the issue of the need of Mizoram and I am very sure that the interest of your state will always be protected.

Friends, Mizoram has been a peace for more than a quarter of a century. It is because of this atmosphere of peace, that development and progress have been possible. It is because of this atmosphere of peace, that the people of this state are able to lead a life without any fear. And I can say with great pride, that Mizoram is a model for other states where unfortunately conflicts of one type or other are still existing. 

In this context I cannot help but recall the vision and courage of Rajiv Gandhi and who with support and cooperation of Sh. Lal Thanhawla Ji and his colleagues and people of Mizoram made it possible this transformation.
Friends, Congress party is seeking a new mandate. We are seeking this renewed mandate on the basis of our performance over the decades but particularly over the past five years. We are seeking this on the basis of our pledges to continue to provide a responsible, efficient, transparent administration and an administration that cares for and answers the need of all sections of Mizoram society. An administration that will further improve the life of the people through better education, better skills, better health facilities and better job opportunities. 

On behalf of the Congress party, that has always had a special relationship with Mizoram, and on my own behalf because I always have a special place in my heart for the people of Mizoram, I seek your support for another term and I can tell you that your concerns will be our priorities; your voices will be our guide.
Thank you.. Jai Hind..

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