Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Jitin Prasada on Wednesday joined the chorus for a more active role for Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi in the party and the government.
Mr. Prasada was talking to reporters after inaugurating the Lucknow bypass connecting National Highway-25 and National Highway-28 with National Highway-56 here.
“Mr. Gandhi is presently looking after the Youth Congress where he has ushered in several changes like membership. Ultimately he has to decide what role he has to play in the future,” he said.
The Union Minister said the final call on the issue would be taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Mr. Prasada refused to comment on the indefinite fast by social activist Anna Hazare. He said the UPA government was accountable to the people and working towards that end.
He said the Centre was giving full assistance to the Akhilesh Yadav government in development of the State. He referred to the Rs. 58,000 crore package. An assessment of the government’s performance would be made after the schemes for which the money was given were implemented.
He said the road projects in Uttar Pradesh were delayed as the previous government did not sign the State support agreement with the Centre. He was hopeful that the Samajwadi Party government would fulfil the obligation. “There should be no politics in development.”
The Minister said a new national highway would be built along the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh. It will start from Padrauna in Eastern U.P. and pass through Maharajganj, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri and Pilibhit.
