Rahul not interested in Amethi, Smriti will ensure 'all-round' development: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday alleged Congress president Rahul Gandhi had "no time" for his parliamentary constituency Amethi but Union minister Smriti Irani, if elected from the seat, will ensure "all-round" development of the area.

Irani has pitted herself against the Congress chief who has won thrice from the seat.

She filed her nomination on Thursday after a roadshow, taking the same route Gandhi had taken on Wednesday when he submitted his papers to election officials.

Adityanath accompanied Irani during the show of strength in Amethi, a Gandhi family pocket borough.

"Rahul Gandhi does not have time for Amethi. I had sought proposals for development from him a number of times, but he did not give. Whenever Smriti Irani used to meet me, she talked about the development of Amethi and facilities being given to its people," the chief minister said.

"I am confident that if 'behen' (sister) Smriti Irani is elected as Lok Sabha MP from here, there will be all-round development of Amethi," he added.

Irani, the Union textiles minister, has nursed the constituency even though she was defeated by Gandhi in 2014 polls.

"Despite losing election from here, Smriti Irani is making efforts for development of Amethi, but the same (intent) is not seen in the (current) MP," Adityanath said.

"Hence, I have come here to tell that Smriti's win will strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he added.

Later Adityanath visited Aligarh and addressed two rallies there.

He said the Aligarh Muslim University is "not a minority institution" and is funded by the Centre. "Hence, backward classes and Dalits should be given reservation."
Hitting out at the Congress, Adityanath said, "During Congress government, they use to say that Muslims have the first right on the resources of our country, but in BJP government, every citizen has equal right. We have worked on the theme of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas'."