Maharashtra: Vedanta chief tries to douse political fire over Vedanta-Foxconn project

Sharad Pawar. File Photo

Vedanta Group chief Anil Agarwal has attempted to douse the political fire that has erupted because of the selection of Gujarat over Maharashtra for his company's semiconductor project. He said on social media that the company was committed to investing in Maharashtra as part of its pan-India ecosystem for integration of the Gujarat joint venture.

"This multibillion dollar long-term investment will change the course of Indian electronics. We will create a pan-India ecosystem and are fully committed to investing in Maharashtra as well. Maharashtra will be our key to forward integration in our Gujarat JV," tweeted Agarwal late Wednesday night.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Agarwal's commitment and hit out at the opposition. His party colleague Ashish Shelar demanded that the opposition's claims be probed by a retired high court judge.

The opposition did not buy Agarwal's statement. Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant claimed that the site at Gujarat's Dholera was inconvenient and many companies including ISMC Digital wound up its plan to manufacture semiconductors there.

Also Read: Vedanta-Foxconn plant going to Gujarat is attack on Maharashtra's prestige: Shiv Sena

Agarwal said the company decided on Gujarat a few months ago as it met their expectations. "But in the July meeting with Maharashtra leadership, they made a huge effort to outbid other states with competitive offers. We have to start in one place, and based on professional and independent advice we chose Gujarat," he said.

Elaborating on the site selection, Agarwal said, "This is a scientific and financial process which takes several years. We started this about two years ago," he said, adding that a team of internal and external professional agencies shortlisted states such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. "For the last two years, we have been engaging with each of these governments as well as the Central government and have received fantastic support."

Fadnavis reacts

In his first reaction after the controversy broke out, Fadnavis, who is in Russia, welcomed Agarwal's commitment and accused the opposition of making negative, false and baseless claims.

Assuring Agarwal that the state will always remain competitive and extremely business-friendly, the deputy CM said, "It is disappointing that negative, false and baseless claims are being spread to gain political mileage. This is only to hide their [opposition's] incompetence [when it was in power till June],"he tweeted.

"I want to ask the opposition leaders, who sent back R3.5 lakh crore refinery from Maharashtra? My advice to these leaders is to focus on becoming competent and efficient and not negative and desperate," he added.

Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar asked the government to disclose the necessary documents to prove that the erstwhile MVA government did try to retain the company in Maharashtra. He wanted a retired HC judge to probe Aaditya Thackeray's claims.

"Unfortunately, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena and Aaditya Thackeray's Penguin Sena are bluffing the Marathi Manoos and trying to create a feeling of animosity for the Gujaratis," alleged Shelar.

‘Many projects quit Gujarat'

Sawant alleged that the moving of the project to Dholera will not only harm Maharashtra but the country as well. "According to the internal report of Vedanta company, a comparative study of Talegaon and Dholera was conducted, and Dholera was given less preference citing various reasons. The decision to move the project has been taken under the pressure of the Central Government."

He said other than ISMC Digital, JioPhone moved to Tirupati from Dholera, Lockheed Martin Corporation withdrew its solar battery project and Hindustan Construction Company quit a waterfront project.

Project won't come back: Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Thursday that the Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor plant should not have gone out of Maharashtra, but there was no hope now of the Rs 1.54-lakh crore project coming back to the state after the joint venture company opted for Gujarat.

Addressing a press conference, Pawar said the Centre's assurance to Maharashtra that it will get a bigger project than the Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor plant was akin to trying to "convince a child". He said it would have been good for the company had the plant come up at Talegaon near Pune, which already has an automobile hub close to Chakan.