New Delhi

Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday accused Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi of misleading the country and people of his constituency about a proposed food park in Amethi.

Responding to Gandhi’s allegations in the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the Narendra Modi-led government scrapped the project, she said the Congress leader laid the foundation stone of the food park in Amethi a few months before the Lok Sabha elections even though the Congress-led UPA government had refused to supply subsidised gas for it.

The minister said the UPSIDC (Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation) had allocated a plot for fertiliser plant of 800 acre, part of which was to be used for setting up mega food park in Amethi parliamentary constituency.

As the minister spoke, Congress members kept protesting.

She told the members that the permission for the food park was given in 2010 and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was in power till 2014.

The park should have been completed in two years but the promoter was given a notice in 2012 as work had not begun, she said, adding that the promoter of the food park had sought subsidised gas which was refused by the petroleum ministry in June 2013.

“Rahul Gandhi laid the foundation stone in October 2013 to mislead (the people),” she said.

Accusing Gandhi of not speaking the truth over the issue, the minister wondered why he did not raise the issue concerning food park for five years.

She said her ministry took a considered decision to cancel the food park 10 months ago. “Was he sleeping for 10 months,” she asked.

“Their leader has tried to mislead the nation and people of his constituency,” she said while accusing the Congress of practising politics of deception.

“Let them refute… their own leader is wrong. He made accusations against the prime minister,” she said.

Badal, who belongs to the Shiromani Akali Dal, also took a dig at Gandhi over his sabbatical of over 50 days. “He came back after five-star holiday in first class and started talking of farmers.”

The issue was raised after Question Hour by Kirit Somaiya of the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that Gandhi had misled the house and the farmers.

Somaiya said he has given notice for a privilege motion against the Congress leader.

Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Modi of playing vendetta politics and scrapping the proposed food park in Amethi.
IANS

Kirit Somaiya’s representation: