Gadkari says Congress denied funds to Uttarakhand

Dehradun, Jan 24 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday accused the Congress-led Central Government of cancelling the development package, sanctioned by former Primer Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for Uttarakhand.

"At that time the package was sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. But presently, the package for Jammu and Kashmir is still given; however the Congress government has cancelled the package for Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh," Gadkari told media here.

"This will definitely be an issue in the forthcoming elections that after cancellation of the package, should the youth of Uttarakhand not be given employment or industries should not set up in the state and the atmosphere for the development of the state should not be supported? This package was cancelled by the Congress government," Gadkari added.

Gadkari also slammed the Congress party for failing to gain trust and fulfill commitments made to the public.

"The Congress has failed to gain trust, leadership, decision making process, transparency and commitment," Gadkari said.

Backing state Chief Minister B. C. Khanduri, Gadkari said: "If the party wins the forthcoming elections Khanduri will continue as the chief minister of the state."Presently there is no such decision of changing the leadership. We are contesting the elections under the leadership of Khanduri ji and after winning the elections Khanduri ji will be our chief minister," he added.

BJP government in Uttarakhand has been marred by corruption charges and it led to the eviction of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank as chief minister.

He was replaced by Khanduri, who had the unenviable task of cleaning BJP's image before the polls.

Polling for the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly would be held on January 30. (ANI)