Kolkata: Senior BJP leader LK Advani on Sunday
accused the UPA government of spending crores to project the
Gandhi family brand through central projects and said it was
trying to replace democratic rule with "dynastic rule".
Speaking at the 110th birth anniversary function of Dr
Shyama Prasad Mookerjee the former deputy prime minister said
that 450 central projects were running in the country either
in the name of Nehru, Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi.
Various amounts were being spent on the projects, he
said, adding, "Crores of rupees are being spent to project a
family brand. Is this democracy? Democratic rule is being
converted to dynastic rule".
Describing Mookerjee as an extraordinary soldier who laid
down his life to keep the country united, Advani said, "his
birthday was on July 6. But did the All India Radio broadcast
any special programme on the occasion? It seems the
Independence of the country and its subsequent development has
been brought about by only one family and no one else".
Advani said that he once pointed inside the Parliament
that five new projects have been named after Nehru, Indira and
Rajiv.
"I asked the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) who was
in the House whether there was no one else in the country
after whom the projects can be named. I told him, if you
cannot find anyone, then why not name a project after the
prime minister who made you the finance minister?"
PTI
