Guj govt gives assistance to cremation grounds, says minister

Amid the row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'graveyard-cremation ground' comments during the Uttar Pradesh poll campaign, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel today said in the state Assembly here that cremation grounds get assistance from the state government.
Without taking names, Patel said a leader from Uttar Pradesh recently asked if Gujarat Government provided any financial assistance to cremation grounds.
"I want to say that yes, we do provide financial assistance to cremation grounds too," said Patel.
The Deputy CM's comments came in an apparent response to BSP chief Mayawati's remarks yesterday that the Prime Minister should first provide cremation grounds in every village in the BJP-ruled states, before talking about the situation in UP.

The issue of cremation grounds came up during the Question Hour today, when BJP MLA Meghjibhai Chavda sought to know whether the government provided assistance to them.
In a written reply, Patel said that under 'Kailash Dham Scheme', municipalities get financial assistance to construct compound wall, office, entrance gate, store room, etc., at the cremation grounds.
Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar alleged that Dalits face discrimination even after the death as they have to use separate cremation grounds at many places.
Another Congress MLA, Gyasuddin Shaikh, asked the government to provide similar assistance for graveyards.