Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 13 (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday claimed that the acquisition of buildings for the Kashi Vishwanath corridor started during the SP government, and crores of rupees were allocated for the project.

“Chronology of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor; Crores were allocated in the SP government. Acquisition of buildings for the corridor started in the SP government. Honorarium fixed for temple workers. ‘PaidalJeevi’ tells us that why the cleanliness drive of the Varuna river of the SP government was stopped and what happened to the metro?” Yadav tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi from Monday, during which he will inaugurate phase 1 of the newly-constructed Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

According to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), “At around 1 PM on December 13, Prime Minister will visit Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and offer prayers, after which he will inaugurate phase 1 of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, constructed at a cost of around Rs 339 crores.”

Chief Ministers of 12 states and deputy chief ministers of nine states will be present during the inauguration of the Vishwanath Corridor project that connects two iconic landmarks in the temple town – the Kashi Vishwanath temple to the Ganga ghats in Varanasi on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that this ‘Dham’ will give a new global identity to Varanasi.

The foundation stone of the project was laid by the Prime Minister on March 8, 2019. The project was designed to provide easy access for the disabled and old age people with the provision of ramps, escalators, and other modern facilities. (ANI)

Owaisi asks if Akhilesh Yadav would appoint Muslim deputy CM in case SP wins UP Assembly polls

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 13 (ANI): AIMIM chief Asaddudin Owaisi on Sunday asked Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav if he would appoint a Muslim for the post of deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in case his party wins the state Assembly polls.

Addressing a public rally here in Kanpur, Owaisi said, “Do not care who will be Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. If Samajwadi Party wins the UP polls, will its chief Akhilesh Yadav appoint a Muslim Deputy CM?”

The AIMIM chief said his party will contest 100 seats in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections. He said AIMIM is open to forming an alliance.

He added, “My Masjid (Babri) was demolished. People who demolished it, disrupted the foundation of India and the rule of law…Did anyone from SP, BSP or Congress say anything? They turned a blind eye as my Masjid was demolished but not theirs.”

Emphasizing Muslims’ representation in the government and policymaking, Owaisi said, “Yadavs formed Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh’s government. Dalits made Mayawati the chief minister. Thakur and Brahmins have formed the current BJP government in Uttar Pradesh. It will no more be decided by touts that where Muslims will cast their votes. I tell the Muslims of Uttar Pradesh that they do not need to be afraid and if the Muslims of Uttar Pradesh want to move forward, then no one will be able to stop them.”

Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh is due for early next year.

In the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party bagged 312 seats out of the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly while Samajwadi Party (SP) bagged 47 seats, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) won 19 and Congress could manage to win only seven seats. The rest of the seats were bagged by other candidates. (ANI)