Arun Jaitley’s reply on Rs. 200 crore allocation for Sardar’s statue

New Delhi, 13 July, 2014

I am proud of the fact that central government is extending support to Gujarat for construction of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in a TV interview to IBN7.

When asked about allocation of Rs. 200 crore for Sardar Patel’s statue in Gujarat, Shri Jaitley said Sardar Patel was a man who created geography of independent India.

Jaitley said when Sardar passed away, the then cabinet ministers had discussed that Sardar’s statue should be installed at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi right in front of the parliament. This sentiment was expressed due to Sardar’s great contribution to the nation. Later the statue was approved on Parliament street by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Jaitley said Congress has no right to question allotment for Sardar’s statue. Those who named hundreds of projects after one family have no right to question the project of Sardar Patel’s statue.

About twitter reactions that the centre has allocated Rs. 200 crore for Sardar Patel’s statue and Rs. 100 crore for girl child campaign, Jaitley replied a quarter of year has already passed, another quarter will pass in making a detail project report and other procedures. The the work will start and in a few months there will be another budget. Rs. 100 crore allotments are to start the projects. This is not 10 year budget, this is one year budget, and rest of the allocations will be made in next year’s budget.