Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar adopted second village in Amethi district, which is the parliamentary constituency of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, making slow inroads for BJP into the Congress stronghold. The Defence Minister made this move at a time when Rahul Gandhi is busy at the helm of anti-demonetisation campaign.
Parrikar recently adopted Hariharpur village in Amethi district under the Sansad Adarsha Gram Yojana. As MP to the Upper House from UP, Parrikar has now adopted two villages under this Yojna in Amethi. In 2015, he had adopted Barauliya village, where BJP leaders claim development work has already started.
Popular as RSS stronghold, the adoption of Hariharpur has excited the local BJP leaders, who now feel it will help in setting an example that may well challenge the achievements of the Gandhi camp, which can then be used during the Assembly elections in 2017.
The Congress dismissed the move saying it’s an attempt by Parrikar to attain publicity. Defining the scheme as “complete failure”, Chandra Kant Dubey said, “The Sansad Adarsha Gram Yojana is a complete failure and this is the reason why Rahul Gandhiji has not adopted the second village. There are no special funds under the scheme and it is being used by MPs to only gain publicity.” He urged the public to visit Jayapur, adopted by PM Modi in Varanasi to see its condition which would be enough to make things clear.
Meanwhile, the chief of Hariharpur village contradicted from Dubey added, “When Manohar Parrikar had come here as Goa chief minister during Lok Sabha elections, he had promised to take care of the village if we voted in favour of the party. He has fulfilled his promise.”
