Row over refinery land in Raj, Minister resigns

Under attack by BJP over a row on proposed oil refinery site in Rajasthan, Revenue Minister Hemaram Choudhary today resigned from the state Cabinet, but Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot promptly turned it down.
"The way politics is being done...Oil refinery controversy is created and rival BJP is making allegations, I felt hurt... as if I am responsible for shifting of the refinery location.. I have no role in it. Hence, I decided to keep away from the ministerial post...Let refinery be set up," Choudhary told reporters in Barmer.
The opposition BJP had alleged that Congress leaders would benefit from the proposed acquisition of land for refinery in Lilala. The site was later shifted Pachpurda, but the decision is said to have apparently not gone down well with some ruling party leaders.

Reacting to the development, Gehlot said, "There is no question of accepting his resignation. I have spoken to him...He is an emotional person. We will sit together and he will be convinced."
"Disagreement over the shifting of the site from Lilala to Pachpadra is a local level issue and we will settle it. Important thing is that the state as a whole will be benefited with the setting up of the refinery in Barmer," Gehlot told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
Elaborating on the charges by BJP, Choudhary said, "I have least interest in location related issue of refinery...I came in politics to serve people... Recently former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on her Suraj Sankalp Yatra made allegations of land purchase and sale against Congress leaders....I seriously felt hurt.

"Let people answer this...If I had bought or sold any land in Barmer connected with refinery, I will face the consequences...I am ready to face any punishment," he said.
The legislator and another prominent Congress MLA Sonaram had publicly sparred over the issue of shifting the site of the refinery from Lilala to Pachpadra (both in Barmer district) at a meeting between farmers and elected representatives in the district yesterday.