Opposition parties, notably Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), have raised concerns over the inauguration of the Tata-Airbus C295 aircraft facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They allege that the facility was originally meant for Nagpur, Maharashtra, and accuse the Centre of unfairly relocating it, prioritizing Gujarat over Maharashtra’s interests.
Maharashtra’s Interests Allegedly Undermined
Jairam Ramesh, senior Congress leader and general secretary of communications, claimed that Maharashtra was deprived of a major opportunity due to what he called “machinations” by the Centre. According to Ramesh, “The people of Maharashtra will give a befitting response to PM Modi and his associates for betraying the state.” He further alleged that the Central Government and the Mahayuti coalition worked together to block new projects for Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Joins Criticism
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed similar frustrations, accusing the Centre of systematically rerouting Maharashtra’s projects to Gujarat. She stated that the move deprived Maharashtra of jobs and economic growth, adding that the Mahayuti government appeared focused solely on staying in power rather than supporting public welfare. “The Prime Minister’s inauguration of the Tata-Airbus facility in Vadodara is a stark example of Maharashtra being sidelined,” Chaturvedi remarked.
Historic Moment for India: PM Modi Inaugurates C295 Aircraft Facility
Despite the political friction, the Tata-Airbus C295 complex in Vadodara marks a significant milestone as India’s first private military aircraft manufacturing facility. PM Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated the facility, which will manufacture C295 aircraft, versatile in roles such as medical evacuation, disaster relief, and maritime patrol.
BJP Defends Centre, Counters Opposition’s Claims
The BJP responded to the opposition’s accusations, with IT cell head Amit Malviya calling Jairam Ramesh’s remarks “unfounded.” He argued that the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government delayed critical agreements that could have brought the Tata-Airbus project to Maharashtra. Referring to a white paper by Maharashtra’s Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Malviya pointed out that no formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to secure the land required. He argued that the project’s move to Gujarat was due to the MVA’s lack of timely action rather than any conspiracy.
