The event, at which Modi addressed a massive gathering, is being seen by some as an effort by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of the BJP to make the PM's visit to ruling Biju Janata Dal's strongest turf - coastal Odisha - one to remember. 

 

There has been political sparring over the refinery for the last several weeks. Pradhan's aggressive campaign in the run-up to the dedication of the refinery had prompted a competitive one from Naveen Patnaik's BJD, which claimed real credit for the Rs 34, 500-crore project, which is being sold as the "eastern energy gateway" of India. 

 

It started with Pradhan taking on Patnaik's claim of the Centre's neglect of Odisha. IOCL-funded vehicles equipped with films toured the state claiming Patnaik's most popular scheme -- rice at Rs 1 a kilo for BPL families--was largely subsidised by the Centre. 

 

Pausing to point out that Pradhan's face in oil ministry hoardings was a violation of a May 13 Supreme Court order, the BJD unleashed its propaganda machinery. 

 

On Friday, former Congress chief minister Giridhar Gamang also wrote to Modi saying it was actually he who had been instrumental in clearing roadblocks for the refinery. 

 

Some of that debate carried on to the IOCL gala stage at Paradip on Sunday. The chief minister pointed out that it was due to his father Biju Patnaik's "continuous efforts" that the Centre had agreed to a refinery at Paradip. He said his government had made available 3,300 acres of land, tax concessions and incentives that would amount to a "sacrifice of Rs 1lakh crore" on the part of the people of Odisha. 

 

The state is in the process of renegotiating a 2004 agreement with IOCL which promises a 30-year exemption of sales tax and a 11-year deferment of value-added tax. 

 

Modi followed, taking a swipe at Congress, but not sparing the BJD either. The 3300-acre land's worth only came from the local jobs the refinery would generate, he said. 

 

"Whenever I announce something, the Congress says we started it. Of course it gives me pleasure to inaugurate something. But, as a prime minister, it gives me greater pleasure to announce a project complete," Modi said, adding that his government was introducing a new work culture. "Dharmendra Pradhan tells me in 60 years Odisha had only got 26 lakh gas connections. But he has ensured connections to 11 lakh households in Odisha in one year," he said. 

 

The acrimony over the refinery has led observers to question who is paying for this competitive blitzkrieg. "If IOCL has so much money for propaganda of one event, they should invest in protecting the mangrove or in providing toilets and drinking water at their outlets," said environment activist Ranjan Panda. 

 

Earlier in the day, Modi dedicated to the nation the new campus of the Departments of the atomic Energy's National Institute of Science Education and Research. He also visited the Jagannnath Temple in Puri, before flying back to Vishakapatnam to attend the International Fleet Review in the afternoon.