‘People of Amethi have been betrayed’
LUCKNOW: Union minister Smriti Irani on Friday said development had been ignored and people of Amethi had been betrayed.
Amethi is the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who has held the seat since 2004.
The information and broadcasting minister was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation of Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Amethi.
Without naming anyone but obviously referring to the Congress, she said, “They have collected votes from here in the name of farmers. When I had come here in 2014, I was told farmers get caning when they go to get seeds.”
She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had started several development projects for Amethi and the result could be seen now.
Irani, who had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Amethi against Congress president Rahul Gandhi and reduced his victory marging, said, “We are working here and soon, he (Gandhi) will also be arriving here.”
Incidentally, the Congress president is scheduled to arrive in his parliamentary constituency on a two-day visit on April 16. During his visit, Gandhi is scheduled to take part in a District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting.
Inaugurating Krishi Mela, she said the PM had not only given
development projects to the Amethi but to the entire country.
“It was PM’s vision that development be brought to Amethi. Hence, Krishi Vigyan Kendra is coming up and it can help increase farmers’ income,” she said.
Speaking at another programme in Gauriganj, Irani said the non-BJP governments had never thought about women, but after taking oath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described himself as the “sevak (servant) of the people” and had been working in that capacity.
Under the Centre’s Swachh Bharat Mission, Rs 55 crore was spent in Amethi and by October, it would become open defecationfree, she claimed.
“In all 181 villages are now open defecation free and soon every house will have a toilet,” she said. She communicated directly with about 500 Muslim women and told them about the government schemes and policies for women. A session was also organised on triple talaq.