New Delhi, Aug 16: Proposed inauguration of a
stadium by Congress President Sonia Gandhi in a West Delhi
area on August 23 has run into a controversy with BJP today
objecting to its naming after Rajiv Gandhi.
Delhi BJP President Madan Lal Khurana told reporters that
villagers of Bawana had given the land for the stadium on a
condition that it be named after local leaders Chhotu Ram or
Dada Ulhas but the Delhi government had decided to name it
after Rajiv Gandhi.
While asserting that he was not opposed to naming of
anything after anybody, he said christening of the stadium
after Rajiv Gandhi would create a controversy.
"I want to ask Sonia Gandhi why should a controversy be
created over this issue. Something else may be named after
Rajiv Gandhi. Already several installations and roads are
named after Rajiv Gandhi," Khurana said.
"Great men should not be drawn into controversies," he
said.
He said at the time of laying foundation for the stadium
by Union Minister M M Joshi in 1998, the then Delhi Chief
Minister Sahib Singh Verma had given a written assurance to
the locals that it would be named after whomsover they wished.
He also took a DIG at Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit
saying she was showing "hesitation" in appreciating Vajpayee
government's move to grant statehood to the capital even as
she has started making promises after getting more powers.
"On the one hand, she has promised to give houses to each
citizen on getting control of land and urban development after
statehood, while on the other she is reluctant to thank the
Vajpayee government for the union cabinet decision on
statehood," Khurana said.
Bureau Report
