New Delhi: Congress party, on Tuesday, made a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for focusing on Central Vista Project at a time when the entire country is struggling to fight against Coronavirus pandemic.
The statement comes after the Central Vista project got designated as an "essential service" so that construction work in Delhi remains uninterrupted during the lockdown, and a deadline was being set for the completion of Prime Minister's residence by 2022.
Commenting over this matter, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Rs. 13,450 crores for Central Vista. Or, for fully vaccinating 45 crore Indians. Or, for 1 crore oxygen cylinders. Or, to give 2 crore families NYAY of ₹6000. But, PM’s ego is bigger than people’s lives."
Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala also tweeted, "History will record as Nero was playing the flute when Rome was burning, similarly, when our country was scorched in the fire of Corona, the self-proclaimed 'fakir' (beggar) of India was building a palace for himself."
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Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil held a press conference, on Tuesday, in which he said, "Today, the entire country needs to strengthen the health infrastructure, availability of medicines, oxygen, ICU beds but the Emperor of this country is building a new prime ministerial residence on a war footing. Should this be a priority? Using the money of people for such projects, when people are dying, this kind of mentality is not right."
Gohil even made serious allegations over Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "India's Emperor today, when he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat, the first thing he did was to acquire 8 bungalows near the Chief Minister bungalow, which were the minister's residences, so that all of them would be counted in the Chief Minister's bungalow. He had spent millions of rupees to modernize the Chief Minister's bungalow."
Asserting over the need to announce a nationwide lockdown amid the rapid surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, Gohil suggested that instead of spending Rs 20,000 crores in the Central Vista Project, Government should provide financial aid of Rs 6,000 to each poor person in the country.
"At least there are many leaders in opposition, people are sitting in all the party, call them and have an all party meeting and don't spend these 20 thousand crores, for your bungalows, your palatial palace. I am an MP and request you with folded hands that don't build your home built at war footing, it should be done for building hospitals, oxygen supply in this country," Gohil demanded.
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