Varanasi's potholed roads: Centre turns table on UP govt

Varanasi, Aug 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image was not getting sullied due to potholed roads in his constituency Varanasi as their maintenance was responsibility of the Uttar Pradesh government, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said here today.

The Union minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy was here on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Addressing a gathering of women, Goyal also announced free accidental insurance scheme for 51,000 women as a gift from the prime minister for his constituency.

However, when reporters asked about the broken roads of Varanasi, even an year after Modi was elected from the seat, the Union minister sought to turn the tables on the state government.

"No image of the prime minister was getting spoiled as even public knows that the roads (of Varanasi) come under the jurisdiction of the state government," he said. However, Goyal said the Central government was extending all possible help, on every front, to the UP government and they need to look into this matter.

The minister said that he will apprise the UP government about the matter. Interestingly, UP PWD minister Surendra Patel is from Varanasi and is an MLA from Sevapuri Assembly segment here.

When asked about the rocketing prices of onions, the Union minister appealed to the public that they should not panic as it would come down in coming days as nearly 1,000 tons of onions were being imported everyday in the country.

Goyal also said that the inflation is in control and public was in much relief than the previous UPA government's regime during which the prices of all essential items raised drastically.

Speaking about the terrorists attacks from Pakistan, Goyal said that the Indian government was giving befitting reply and Army was responding to their all attacks and had also nabbed two terrorists.

Describing GST as a boost to the economy, Goyal said that some political parties don't want to see the progress of the country so they are against this GST bill. "I request all those political parties who are against this GST bill to lend their support to the NDA government for the benefit of the country," said Goyal.

PTI