India has to decide whether it wants temples or bridges: Kejriwal pits Signature Bridge against Statue of Unity
High drama at Signature Bridge.
The Signature Bridge over the Yamuna was inaugurated amid a surcharged atmosphere on Sunday with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attacking BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the country needs bridges, schools and hospitals not temples and statues for progress.
High drama prevailed before the inauguration of the bridge with Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari and scores of supporters staging a protest for allegedly not being invited to inaugural event of the newly-built city landmark. They also had a "scuffle" with some AAP workers.
"Four days ago the 182 metre tallest statue of the world was unveiled and today this 154 metre high bridge is being inaugurated. The country has to decide if it needs statues and temples or bridges, schools and hospitals," Kejriwal said inaugurating the bridge.
He said the thought of Signature bridge reminded him of the first Prime Minister of the country Jawahar Lal Nehru.
"If Nehru had chosen to build temples and statues instead of institutions like BHEL and SAIL, then the country would not have progressed. The country would languish in 15th century if temples and mosques are given preferences over science, technology and research," Kejriwal said.
He alleged that in order to stop his government from completing the bridge, the officials and engineers were issued threats of CBI raids against them.
"The Signature bridge has been completed only because there is an honest government in Delhi," Kejriwal asserted.
Source: BB Yadav/DNA
Earlier Sunday, Tiwari and his supporters allegedly entered into a scuffle with AAP members and staged a protest for not being invited to inaugural event.
Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were not present when the protest took place.
BJP, however, said that AAP leader Amantullah Khan used abusive language and pushed Tiwari.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police, eastern range, said the main function was held smoothly without any disturbance.
"Our staff on duty at the place of function performed their task with utmost restraint and diligence. Though there was slogan shouting but police segregated the groups and did not allow any clash or violence to take place," he said.
"The situation was handled very professionally by Delhi Police and not allowed to take an ugly turn," Yadav added.
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Deputy CM Manish Sisodia also alleged that "obstacles" were raised by the Modi government so that the Signature bridge was not completed in the rule of AAP government in Delhi.
"If Modi government had contributed one inch to this bridge, I would myself chant Modi-Modi like those who are showing black flags," he said referring to BJP supporters who were camped nearby along with Manoj Tiwari.
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In a direct attack on Tiwari, Sisodia said if he was "so fond of" going to inaugurals then he should work constructively.
"It is Modi government's rule that the CM of elected government in Delhi will not be invited to any inaugural function. We deliberately did not invite (Tiwari)," Sisodia said claiming no one from Delhi government was invited at inauguration of Skywalk at ITO.
Source: BB Yadav/DNA
Announced in 2004, the bridge has missed several deadlines since 2011. The proposal for the bridge was mooted in 2004 but it received approval of the Delhi Cabinet in 2007.
Source: BB Yadav/DNA
It was initially expected to be completed at a modified estimate of Rs 1,131 crore for the Commonwealth Games, held in Delhi in October 2010.
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In 2015, the cost of the project rose to Rs 1,594 crore. Reportedly, the bridge was proposed for the first time as early as in 1997 at an initial cost of Rs 464 crore. The bridge will share the burden of vehicular traffic currently borne by the Wazirabad bridge.
Source: BB Yadav/DNA
Speaking to ANI, Tiwari claimed that the entire incident took place in front of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, adding that he is going to file an FIR over the incident. "Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan pushed me (during the inauguration of Delhi's Signature Bridge), the whole incident took place in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister. I am going to file an FIR over the incident. Khan's bail should be cancelled immediately," he said. Earlier today, Tiwari had alleged that he was stopped by the police and AAP supporters from attending the event.
Tiwari is MP from North East Delhi and the bridge comes in his constituency.
Source: BB Yadav/DNA