Akhilesh Yadav's development talk a sham: Manoj Sinha

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha on Wednesday accused the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) government of doing no development on the ground.

In Varanasi, the Union Minister told reporters that the BJP has achieved majority after phase 5 of the state assembly elections in an "unprecedented wave" in favour of the party and went on to claim that the wave had now turned into a "Tsunami".

"During successive Congress regimes, development of Uttar Pradesh was limited to Rae Bareli and Amethi," he said, adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "special affection" for eastern Uttar Pradesh, also called 'Poorvanchal'.

"In last three years of budget, railway projects worth Rs 36,000 crore were undertaken, which included doubling and electrification of rail lines, railway projects worth Rs 318.7 in Varanasi and many more," Sinha said.

He added that gauge conversion projects were in progress throughout the country and that all narrow and meter gauge lines will be converted into broad gauge.

The Union Minister said work for increasing the capacity of Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) will be completed before the scheduled time.

In BJP regime, 11 new trains were started from Varanasi, said Sinha, who rued how construction of bridges in Mirzapur, Chunar, Lanka, Balua, and Jamunia was approved by Mulayam Singh Yadav many years ago but was still incomplete.

--IANS

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