UP Guv visits Rampur amidst protests

Lucknow, Apr 26 (UNI) Admist protest by the ruling Samajwadi Party workers, Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar today proposed handing over Gandhi Samadhi in Rampur to the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

In a day long visit to the west UP town of Rampur this morning, Mr Rajeswar went to the Samadhi and announced it would not be shifted anywhere from its present location.

He also mooted handing over the Samadhi to the ASI.

The Samadhi was constructed by the erstwhile Nawab of Rampur after Mahatma Gandhi's death in 1948. The Nawab had travelled to Delhi to bring the ashes of the Mahatma to set up the Samadhi Sthal.

Besides, Rajghat in New Delhi, this is the only place where Bapu's ashes are buried.

Recently the Samadhi had come under controversy when the UP urban development minister Mohd Azam Khan had proposed shifting the site for road widening, which is part of a larger project to beautify Rampur.

Later talking to mediapersons, Mr Rajeswar said he would not like to comment on the performance of the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led UP government.

To a poser on the delay in setting up the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar university in Rampur, the Governor said initially he had pointed out certain shortcomings in the bill passed by the state legislature.

Later, he had sent the bill for presidential reference. He maintained the bill was still pending with the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

With this, Mr Rajeswar tried to cap the controversy that Raj Bhawan was delaying approving the bill, which had generated much heat between the Governor and Mr Khan.

Meanwhile, a section of SP workers and members of the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust opposed the Governor's visit to Rampur.

While Mr Khan sat on a dharna for two hrs, his supporters displayed black flags and raised slogans. The protestors were opposing the governor for not giving approval for the varsity.

UNI MB/NAB VS YA VC1830