Guj Cong withdraws 'bandh' as PM assures of SSP construction on

Ahmedabad, Apr 16 (UNI) In the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance to the all party delegation of Gujarat's MPs in New Delhi that the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) would not be stopped, the Gujarat Congress has withdrawn today's 'Gujarat Bandh' call in protest against the current impasse, hindering early completion of the Project.

Talking to UNI, Gujarat Congress senior leader and Leader of the Opposition in Gujarat Legislative Assembly Arjun Modhvadia said the Prime Minister's assurance was a victory for the people of Gujarat and there was no point in continuing the 'bandh' call.

Mr Modhvadia further stated that now the 'onus' is on Chief Minister Narendra Modi to settle the rehabilitation issue of Narmada oustees with the BJP Government of Madhya Pradesh, whose failure in giving compensation package to the Project Affected People (PAP) has created the current impasse leading to the question mark on the completion of the SSP.

Criticising Mr Modi's 51-hour long fast, which began at Gujarat University Ground here this afternoon, the Congress leader said that Mr Modi should use his political clout to force his counter part in Madhya Pradesh to rehabilitate the PAPs at the earliest so that Gujarat's lifeline project could be completed without any further delay.

He commented that Mr Modi should hold his fast in Madhya Pradesh rather than holding it in Gujarat.

The Congress leader also asked Mr Modi to look into the assistance of Rs 400-crore given to the MP government by the Gujarat government for rehabilitating the PAP and also the next instalment of Rs 200-crore, which is going to be released in of week's time.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Congress has organised celebration programmes- fire-cracking and lightings, all over the state.

According to a report from Vadodara, city unit president Bhikha Rabari along with 10 other Congress workers were arrested by police this morning while they were taking out a procession and attempting to close down few shops forcibly in the market area. They were released later.

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