Hemaram protests at Cairn work site
Veteran Congress leader Hemaram Choudhary staged a dharna outside the work site of private company Cairn Oil and Gas at Gudamalani in Barmer district on Saturday, condemning the company’s working style.
“Cairn has earned millions from my constituency area from the exploration of petroleum products, but it did not give opportunities for expansion of resources and local jobs. Today staged a protest outside the Raageshwari Gas Terminal,” he tweeted.
Choudhary’s move comes after he sent his resignation to chief minister Ashok Gehlot and assembly speaker CP Joshi On Tuesday. His resignation has not been accepted so far.
Former revenue minister and six-time MLA from Gudamalani assembly constituency in Barmer, Choudhary was in the news last year also when he joined the Sachin Pilot camp against Gehlot. However, after intervention by the Congress central leadership, Choudhary had been keeping quiet, but he resigned from the assembly membership on Tuesday.
Later, when state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara spoke to him, Choudhary indicated to withdraw his resignation if his issues were resolved.
Reacting to his stand against Cairn Oil and Gas, Choudhary said the company has been working in his constituency area and making a fortune for a long time. He claimed that he never interfered in the company’s policy in utilising the corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund, but in recent times he has been requesting the company officials to use the CSR fund for Covid management. “Despite my repeated requests, the company ignored my demands. If the company had considered my request, it would have been of great help to the people suffering from the pandemic,” he said.
Choudhary accused the company of misusing the CSR fund. “Despite the availability of many buildings in the district, the company is unnecessarily creating a Covid-19 hospital in a dome,” he said. He said that during the chief minister’s visit to the district in November 2019, he had boycotted a programme organised by the company to mark his protest as the company was ignoring the local youths in the jobs. “If my demands are not met, I will intensify the protest,” Choudhary said.
Reacting over the issue, a Cairn official said, “Since the discovery of oil and gas in region, company is working closely with all stakeholders and during Covid pandemic, has worked closely with the state health officials and district administration.” BARMER: