Will open 'international standard' hospital in UP, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday vowed to open a hospital of international standard in the state, adding that the institution would offer medical assistance to the poor at minimal cost.

"Somebody told me it's not possible to have a hospital of international standard in UP, which will provide medical assistance at minimal charges to the poor, I said it is possible and this will start from Amethi itself," said Gandhi, while addressing a public meeting in his parliamentary constituency.

The Gandhi scion, who has adopted Amethi's Jagdishpur village under the 'Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana', also criticised the scheme, stating that he wants the development of all 700 villages falling under his constituency.

"All the Members of Parliament (MPs) were asked to adopt a village under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, I too adopted a village. But when I visited that village, I was wondering, I am the MP of 700 villages and not just one. What is the point of creating one ideal village? I want 700 ideal villages instead," he declared.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana on Independence Day. The scheme sees parliamentarians choose one village each from the constituencies that they represent, fix parameters and make it a model village by 2016.