A political storm broke out in Maharashtra, last month after a joint venture between Vedanta and Foxconn, which had been in negotiations with the state to build its new semiconductor plant, agreed to have its project installed in Gujarat. Additionally, the Tata-Airbus C-295 transport plane project will now start in Gujarat’s Vadodara.
Allegations of Aaditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) & NCP
On Thursday, the Opposition in Maharashtra accused the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government of letting another project move to the neighboring state in response to the news that the Tata-Airbus C-295 transport aircraft project would be developed in Vadodara, Gujarat.
“Another project! Since July, I had made this request and asked Khoke Sarkar to finalize the deal (Tata Airbus). Why are all of the projects moving to other states in the last three months? I’m curious. On an industry level, there is a clear loss of faith in khoke sarkar. After losing 4 projects, will the industry minister step down?,” tweeted MLA Aaditya Thackeray.
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) also demanded the resignation of Uday Samant, the industry minister.
Samant, a supporter of Shinde, had predicted that the Tata-Airbus aircraft manufacturing project would be built in Vidarbha, close to Nagpur, in September of this year. Aaditya questioned the state administration, “Will the state government give answers to why these projects are going out?” while speaking to reporters in Shirur tehsil, Pune district.
“Ever since this traitorous administration came into power, Maharashtra has lost a total of four projects. They frequently brag about having a two-engine government, yet while one of the central engines is operating, the state government’s engine is broken” said Aaditya Thackeray.
“Vedanta-Foxconn, medical device park, bulk medicines park, and now the Tata-Airbus project,” said Priyanka Chaturvedi, a member of parliament and spokeswoman for the Uddhav Thackeray camp. Chaturvedi added “all have left Maharashtra, they were busy counting 50 Khoke and performing “ji hazoori” in the Delhi Darbar because of the 50 “Khoke sarkar” Maharashtra still pays a price for their dishonest politics. They are disgraceful.”
Shinde was also accused by the NCP of “bowing before his political masters (BJP)” NCP leader Mahesh Tapase told reporters, “After Vedanta-Foxconn, now Tata-Airbus project has gone to Gujarat due to the shear negligence of Eknath Shinde, as he continually fails to retain investment and projects in Maharashtra. “Shinde is busy defending his Chief Minister position even as Gujarat continues its surgical attack on Maharashtra,” he continued. After Vedanta-Foxconn left, Shinde made it very clear that the Tata-Airbus project will start in Nagpur. His deception has been exposed today, he added.
Tapase demanded Shinde to step down as chief minister immediately for failing to represent Maharashtra’s interests, taking an example from former British prime minister Liz Truss.
Response of Uday Samant
Uday Samant blamed the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi administration for losing the projects. “The Opposition is trying to confuse young people’s minds. On September 21, 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the companies and the government (when the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA was in power)”, he added.
“The project was then finalized to be set up in Gujarat by the company about a year ago. We are attempting to bring that initiative to Maharashtra, however, it has already moved to Gujarat,” Samant said.
Samant alleged “the project had left for Gujarat a year ago and the MVA government failed to bring it back.”
Tata-Airbus C-295 transport plane project in Gujarat
Tata and Airbus will produce transport planes for the military in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project will cost the central government around 22,000 crore.
“This is the first project of its kind that will see an Indian private company produce a military aircraft. The project will cost 21,935 crore in total. The plane can also be utilized for civil aviation,” Dr. Ajay Kumar, the secretary of defense, said.
On the upcoming Sunday (30/10/2022) in Vadodara, PM Modi will inaugurate the manufacturing plant. The new project, which has the potential to create thousands of employment, is announced amidst state elections in Gujarat.
In September, Gujarat defeated Maharashtra to win a 16-thousand-crore investment that will enable a joint venture between Vedanta and Taiwan’s Foxconn to create chips (semiconductors). With significant electricity subsidies and other incentives, their factories will be located close to Ahmedabad and are anticipated to generate over 100,000 jobs.
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