Patna, July 9: BJP today urged the President, Prime Minister and the defence minister to complete the ordnance factory at Rajgir in Nalanda district at the earliest.

“I have written letters to the President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and defence minister A.K. Antony and urged them for the resumption of work at the ordnance factory at Rajgir in Nalanda district, the construction of which was scheduled to be completed by 2010. I have requested them to personally look into the matter and get it resolved so that construction could be completed,” state BJP president C.P. Thakur told reporters here.

The construction of the ordnance factory started in 2002 at the initiative of then defence minister George Fernandes, who happens to be the member of Parliament from Nalanda. But the sole factory for which the residents voluntarily gave up around 3,100 acres in the hope that the factory would create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and benefit the people of the area, Thakur said, adding that the halting of construction work has dashed their hopes.

“This factory, if completed, would be the second such factory to make propellants in the world after South Africa,” Thakur said and added: “I will raise the matter in Rajya Sabha as the Centre has put the construction of factory on the backburner which is not in the country’s interest at all.”

On whether the BJP supports the JD(U)’s signature campaign for special status, Thakur said: “We are absolutely with the JD(U) on the issue.”