Kochi: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan indirectly criticized the sale of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) during an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pinarayi VIjayan said that growth and development in Kerala is not only through inviting private investment but also through empowerment of the public sector. The CM’s remarks came during the event in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the Propylene Derivative Petrochemical Project (PDPP) of BPC to the nation.

The Kerala government has been taking efforts to bring industrial development in the state for the last 4 years. Industrial development is not achieved only through inviting private funding, but also through the empowerment of the public sector and renewal of traditional sectors. The CM added that BPCL’s new project was in line with this perspective.

The state government is always willing to cooperate with the central government in developmental activities. Kerala has seen wholescale and stable development activities in the last 4 years, the CM added.

Narendra Modi, who arrived at the airport of the Southern Naval Command in a special flight, was received by state PWD Minister G. Sudhakaran. From the airport he took a helicopter to the Rajagiri College ground and reached the inauguration venue at Ambalamedu VHSE school grounds by road.

Joining Modi’s motorcade to the inauguration venue were Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan also shared the stage with Modi.

After his programme, Modi attended the core committee meeting of the state BJP unit, before his return to the national capital.

  PINARAY