BJP opposes Sonia's visit to inaugurate Rishikesh rail project

Dehradun, Oct 25: The ruling BJP in Uttarakhand today opposed Congress' move of inviting party chief Sonia Gandhi for laying foundation stone of the much-delayed Rishikesh- Karanprayag rail project and said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should inaugurate the project.

Reacting to Congress MP from Pauri Satpal Maharaj's statement that funds have been released and Gandhi will soon inaugurate the project, BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Bhagat Singh Koshiyari said the Prime Minister should come for the purpose as it was his prerogative. "We strongly oppose Congress' move for inviting Sonia Gandhi for laying foundation stone of the Rishikesh- Karanprayag project.

We will be happy if the Prime Minister himself comes for the function," he said. The BJP leader said there should be no politics over the issue since PM has done a good work by releasing funds for the project. "This project will see the light of the day largely because of the Prime Minister's magnanimity in releasing funds and taking keen interests in it," he said.

The long-delayed Rishikesh-Karanprayag rail project was conceptualised during the British rule and in the last rail budget, Centre had approved funds for it.

PTI