In Vedanta-Foxconn row, Maharashtra minister says PM promised...

Vedanta-Foxconn who were in advanced talks with Maharashtra have signed an MoU with the government of Gujarat to set up their semiconductor and display manufacturing unit in the state

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has blamed the MVA government for Maharashtra losing out to Gujarat in the race for the $20 billion Vedanta-Foxconn project, claimed Maharashtra industries minister Uday Samant on Wednesday.

State industries minister Samant said on Wednesday that the Prime Minister has assured CM Shinde the state will be given an even bigger project at a later date which will generate employment (Praful Gangurde)

Vedanta-Foxconn who were in advanced talks with Maharashtra have signed an MoU with the government of Gujarat to set up their semiconductor and display manufacturing unit in the state. The sudden move has created a political firestorm with the opposition accusing the Shinde-BJP government of having missed a huge development opportunity for the state.

READ | Vedanta, Foxconn to invest $19.5 billion to set up semiconductor plant in Gujarat

State industries minister Samant said on Wednesday that the Prime Minister has assured CM Shinde the state will be given an even bigger project at a later date which will generate employment.

READ | Maharashtra’s offer better than Gujarat’s says Opposition after Vedanta-Foxconn move

Commenting on the allegations of the failure of the Shinde-Fadnavis government to land the megadeal, Samant said, “No project goes away in just two months’ time…The fact is that in the last couple of months this government had held several meetings to see if more incentives could be given. Devendra Fadnavis had spoken to Vedanta chairman Anil Agrawal and assured him that Maharashtra will better the incentives being offered by other states. But clearly their experience of the previous 7 to 8 months could be responsible for their decision to move the project.”

Samant then went on to attack Uddhav Thackeray for his double speak on infra issues, saying on the one hand he was raising his voice on the shifting of the Vedanta-Foxconn project, and on the other hand his party was opposing the Rajapur refinery project.

“They asked their MP to oppose the project while the local MLA supports it. MIDC has given consent letter for acquisition of 2,900 acres of land for the refinery. If there is misunderstanding about the project amongst the locals, we will clear it. We will explain to them that new job opportunities will arise in the region because of this. The project will have a huge impact on the state’s economy,” the minister said.