Plan For Oil States Forum To Boost Royalty

In his first press conference in New Delhi after taking over as the Chief Minister, the Bharatita Janata Party rebel revealed that he was contacting the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Assam.

The four states will make joint efforts for better royalty claims, he said.

Incidentally, all these states are ruled by powerful regional parties which are also constituents of the United Front government at the Centre.

Vaghela, who recently humbled the BJP and formed his own government in Gujarat, said the state will insist on payment of royalty in kind rather than in cash, as has been the practice.

 

He said oil and gas from oil producing states were taken away for the use of other states while the former starved of energy. He wanted Gujarat be allowed to process its own crude and gas and use it for its own increasing needs. In other words, the people of Gujarat should be the owners of its share of oil.

Vaghela was questioned about the advisability of forming such groups of states based on the natural resources or agricultural produce.

What happens if states that mine coal, iron ore, etc, also form such consortia?

He said such groupings did not mean separatism or caucus and will not affect the integrity of the country.

After all, the Centre is not the absolute malik (owner) of the country, he said.