The Congress party has accused the Modi government of showing blatant bias against opposition-ruled states in the allocation of semiconductor manufacturing projects, sparking a fresh political controversy.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the Modi government approved four semiconductor plants but forced companies to shift their proposed locations to BJP-ruled states. "A leading private company’s application for a project in Telangana was approved only after it agreed to relocate to Andhra Pradesh," Ramesh claimed on X. He further alleged that two projects originally planned for Telangana and another for Tamil Nadu were redirected to Gujarat, a BJP stronghold.

"The PM talks of competition among states to strengthen India, but this biased umpiring turns it into a farce," Ramesh said, criticizing the government's approach.

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The accusations come in the wake of the Union Cabinet’s approval of four semiconductor plants, including a high-profile unit backed by Intel and Lockheed Martin, with a combined investment of Rs 4,594 crore. These plants are slated for Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab, with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirming that construction will begin soon and the facilities will be operational within 2-3 years.

Vaishnaw highlighted the enthusiasm of the chief ministers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, who assured swift progress on the projects. However, the Congress claims the allocation process unfairly favors states aligned with the ruling BJP, raising questions about transparency and fairness in India’s push for semiconductor self-reliance.

As the debate intensifies, the opposition’s allegations could cast a shadow over the government’s ambitious semiconductor manufacturing plans, a critical component of India’s economic and technological strategy.

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