Congress slams Modi regime over ‘premature’ IIOJK lithium discovery claims
Party attributed lack of investors’ interest to failing security situation in IIOJK
New Delhi: The Congress lashed out at the Modi government over reports that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been asked to conduct a re-exploration of the lithium reserves in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh termed the situation a “case of premature celebration,” criticizing the government’s handling of the lithium reserve discovery.
Ramesh highlighted the timeline in a post on X, noting that the Modi government announced the discovery of one of the “world’s largest lithium reserves” in February 2023 with much fanfare. However, subsequent auctions failed to attract sufficient bids, with the first auction in November 2023 being canceled due to a lack of interest and the second attempt in March 2024 also receiving no bidders.
By October 2024, GSI was directed to conduct a re-exploration of the reserves due to insufficient exploration data, with auctions delayed by at least six more months. “This is typical of the headline-obsessed Modi government’s functioning,” Ramesh stated, emphasizing that such proclamations without thorough groundwork exemplify poor planning.
The Congress had earlier attributed the lack of investor interest to the “failing security situation” in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that it discouraged exploration and development projects in the region. The party has called for better planning and accountability in such strategic resource ventures.
