Sonia: Secularism and all-round development go together

With the recent communal violence weighing on her mind, Sonia Gandhi on Sunday said the country’s secular ethos require that all communities move forward shoulder-to-shoulder on the path of development and a government needs to maintain peace and harmony to ensure this.

“When your own government ensures an environment of peace and harmony, there is development in every direction, and then only there is prosperity.”Every section of society should move forward together… shoulder-to-shoulder. This is India’s secular culture…. and foundation of governance,” Gandhi said at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Rs 37,230-crore refinery and petrochemical complex here. Gandhi’s remarks came in the backdrop of the recent communal violence in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh which left 48 people dead and thousands of others displaced. The UPA Chairperson said the central government led by Manmohan Singh was committed to all-round development, inclusive growth and empowerment of poor, tribals and women. Hailing Ashok Gehlot government’s flagship schemes including free medicine and diagnostic facilities in government run hospitals, Gandhi said that refinery and petrochemical complex will give a huge revenue impetus to Rajasthan. “The revenue so generated would be used in public works and uplift of poor,” she said, adding “I am sure the coming days and years would take this Barmer region to the path of progress and prosperity, and will bring a major change…for that we are dedicated and committed”. Rajasthan would be the first state in the country to use its own crude oil being explored in Barmer for its oil refinery which would provide 25000 jobs, she said, adding it was a major step for new industries in the state Gandhi, who flew in chopper to the thar desert of Rajasthan, unveiled two placques of foundation stone with a push button in presence of Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M Veerappa Moily and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot here, 90 km from Jodhpur. Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government are jointly setting up a 9 million tonnes per annum grass root petrochemical complex. HPCL would have 74 per cent stake in the JV while the rest 26 per cent with Rajasthan government. The refinery complex will source crude oil from Rajasthan oil fields and other imports. The project is expected to bring accelerated growth in the region and provide huge opportunity for downstream petrochemical industries. About 1.39 lakh people will be benefited from the project. Out of the project cost of Rs 37,230 crore, the Rajasthan government will contribute funds to the tune of Rs 3,872 crore and production will start by 2017.