The Congress President Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to inaugurate an incomplete road. Following this, the Chief of the Congress party accused the BJP of interfering in the development work being done by him in his constituency.

“Six national highways are passing through Amethi because of our (Congress) efforts. It was because of my efforts that this road was constructed and now I was not permitted to inaugurate it. The BJP is conspiring against me and is trying to take the credit for my works,” claimed Rahul, who is on a two-day visit to Amethi.

The project is a 5-km road between Kotwa and Thauri rural areas and is being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) with a budget of Rs. 3.03 crore.

The itinerary of Rahul’s programme caught wide media attention and was published in newspapers mentioning the inauguration, and after seeing all that, the local BJP unit approached the PWD.

“There are two things – one; the road is still incomplete; secondly, according to the protocol, a minister of the state government should be present during such a programme. About his claim (that he made the road), I would only say that the funds have been allocated under the Central government’s PMGSY and not from his (MP) fund,” Amethi district president Uma Shanker Pandey said.

KK Srivastav, the executive engineer of the PMGSY, agreed with the view of Pandey.

“There is no question of seeking or giving permission to an incomplete project. A stretch of 100 metres is still to be completed after which anybody can inaugurate the road following the norms,” Srivastava told News Agencies.

“It’s incomplete.if Rahul wants he can inspect the road,” Shakuntala Gautam, DM, Amethi, said.

The Congress party says that the BJP wants the road to be inaugurated by Union Minister Smriti Irani.

“She was in Amethi a couple of days ago and is aware of the importance of the road. It was on her instigation that the local BJP unit created a scene and prevented Rahul Gandhi,” state BJP spokesperson Dwijendra Tripathi said.

The ruling party BJP alleged that taking credit for others’ hard work is an old habit of the Congress.

“Besides, Rahul is mature in this art ever since his year-old friendship and collaboration with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. He should grow up and stop doing politics on development works,” state BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said.

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