Maha Congress chief Patole targets Mahayuti govt over Tata-Airbus facility slipping away to Gujarat

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inaugurated the ‘Tata-Airbus’ project in Gujarat, Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole on Monday criticized the Mahayuti coalition for allowing the project to slip away from the state to Gujarat.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Patile said: “Maharashtra’s reputation as a premier destination for foreign investment has been severely undermined by the corrupt Mahayuti coalition.”

This coalition, which panders to the interests of Gujarat while serving the Delhi establishment, consistently places Gujarat’s needs above those of Maharashtra.

The ambitious ‘Tata-Airbus’ project for aircraft manufacturing, valued at approximately Rs 22,000 crore, was originally intended for Maharashtra. However, due to the laxity of this corrupt alliance, it has been relocated to Gujarat, Patole alleged.

He further pointed out that “had this project gone ahead in Maharashtra, it would have generated at least 10,000 job opportunities for residents of Nagpur, Bhandara, and across the state”.

“Although Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis represents Nagpur, he has failed to advocate for the rights of its citizens before the powers in Delhi. What justice can he truly deliver to the youth of Maharashtra?” Maharashtra Congress chief asked.

His remarks came in the wake of the Prime Minister and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez on Monday jointly inaugurated an aircraft manufacturing facility in Gujarat’s Vadodara, which will collaborate with Spain’s Airbus to develop fighter aircraft.

The Tata aircraft complex will manufacture 40 C-295 aircraft beginning in 2026 and it will be producing India’s first privately built military aircraft.

While addressing the gathering after inauguration, Modi said that the aircraft manufacturing facility will enhance defence capabilities and strengthen relations between India and Spain.

The Indian Prime Minister said, “From today, we are giving a new direction to India and Spain’s partnership. We are inaugurating the production factory of C-295 aircraft. This factory will strengthen India-Spain relations.”