Amid Cong-BJP sparring, MP CM inaugurates Handloom Park

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today inaugurated Handloom Park in Chanderi amid a tug-of-war between the BJP and the Congress seeking credit for the facility.
On the occasion, the chief minister announced to link Chanderi with the tourist circuit.
He also announced several other developmental works in Chanderi town, famous for its hand-woven sarees and handloom material.
The BJP and Congress are claiming credit for the facility, as its foundation stone was laid by the local Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia in 2008.
The local Congress MLA Gopal Singh Chouhan today claimed he was arrested while going towards the venue of the inauguration function, a charge denied by the police.

"I was invited for the programme and my name was also printed on the invitation card. But, police arrested me when I was going to attend the event," Chouhan claimed.

However, Ashok Nagar Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh Gaur denied the MLA's contention.
"The MLA was not arrested. We stopped him near his home when he was going to attend Chief Minister's programme. We had information that he may create some problem along with his supporters at the event," he said.
Meanwhile, state unit Congress spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi questioned the "hurry" to inaugurate the "incomplete" Park.
"The Congress MP had got it (Handloom Park) sanctioned, arranged the fund and laid the foundation stone. However, the chief minister hurriedly inaugurated it even without its completion. The CM wanted to take the credit of Scindia's work," he alleged.

Hitting back, BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said Scindia was trying to take credit of every work.
"Scindia wanted to take credit for every work. There is the BJP government in state since the past 13 years and since the last three years at the Centre. Obviously, these works were conducted during the BJP rule," Agrawal said.
Scindia yesterday said he had laid the foundation stone for the facility in 2008.
"Then minister for commerce Kamal Nath had approved Rs 28-crore, but its cost gone up to Rs 48-crore due to delay in work. I had arranged Rs 15-crore from NTPC during my stint as Energy Minister and an additional Rs 2-crore from Commerce Ministry," Scindia said in a tweet.

In another tweet, he said, "I am also making efforts to arrange remaining 3-crore to complete the work".
The Park, spread on ten acres, was built with the investment of Rs 30.69 crore. It has a number of work stations for weavers, whose work will get the quality certificate. It also has an open theatre.