Other States - Uttar Pradesh   

Governor visits Rampur amid protests

Minister Azam Khan sits on dharna for two hours, his supporters display black flags and burn effigy

Lucknow: Amid protests by the ruling Samajwadi Party workers, Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar on Wednesday proposed handing over of Gandhi Samadhi in Rampur to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

In a day-long visit to the western Uttar Pradesh town of Rampur, Mr Rajeswar went to the Samadhi and announced that it would not be shifted anywhere from its present location.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party workers held demonstrations and burned the Governor's effigy while Urban Development Minister Azam Khan staged a ``silent protest'' against the Governor's visit here. The party workers also waved black flags as Rajeswar arrived in the town amid tight security.

Mr. Khan said he had asked the Governor to visit Rampur only after giving his assent to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Urdu University Blll. ``Since he arrived without accepting our request, we are registering our protest,'' he told reporters.

The Gandhi 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 other place where Bapu's ashes are buried.

Recently the Samadhi had come under controversy when Mr. Khan had proposed shifting the site for road widening, which is part of a larger project to beautify Rampur.

Later talking to media persons, Mr Rajeswar said he would not like to comment on the performance of the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led 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. But 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. - UNI, PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

U.P. power crisis deepens
Lucknow Shatabdi to run at 150 km per hour
U.P. Govt. unhelpful in Rae Bareli's progress: Rahul
Governor visits Rampur amid protests

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu