The trial run of lucknow Metro evoked strong criticism from all main Opposition parties who were unanimous in terming the state government’s move as ‘a cosmetic exercise to misguide the public on development’.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati was the first to attack the SP government claiming that the project was inaugurated in haste to gain cheap popularity ahead of Assembly polls.
“The SP knows very well that it would not return to power after the Assembly polls. Hence Akhilesh Yadav is inaugurating all the projects even before theyr are complete,” said Mayawati. She went on to claim that the road map of introducing Metro Rail in lucknow was done by her government for which the ruling SP was trying to take credit.
“It was done in haste to gain cheap popularity and smacks of ‘bachkani zid’ (childish stubbornness) of the Chief Minister,” she charged.
UP Congress too came up with strong criticism despite their on-going talks with the SP in the coming Assembly polls.
“Akhilesh has made mockery by inaugurating one after the other project in the name of dedicating it to public. Neither the lucknow-Agra Expressway has been opened for public, nor the citizens in lucknow can travel on Metro till March next year. Half a dozen other incomplete projects have similarly been inaugurated by the CM in the name of dedicating them to the public,” charged UP Congress Media Cell incharge Satyadeo Tripathi.
“Why is Akhilesh in such tearing hurry and could not wait for few more months for the inauguration IJ The people have seen through Akhilesh’ move and will throw out the SP in the coming elections,” warned Tripathi.
The BJP too accused the ruling SP for inaugurating incomplete projects as the fear of losing the electoral battle loomed. “lucknow-Agra Expressway, lucknow Metro, lok Bhawan, JP Convention Center, Gomti River Front and many more projects have been inaugurated even before completion as the CM fears that his party will not return to power,” said chief spokesman of state BJP unit, Hriday Narain Dikshit.
The BJP leader also pointed out that a major portion of the total cost for lucknow Metro was footed by the Centre, yet the SP government did not have the courtesy to invite local MP and Union Home minister Rajnath Singh at the inauguration ceremony.
“Rajnath Singh is slated to be in lucknow on Friday. It would have been better if Akhilesh Yadav had spoken to the Union Home minister and postponed the programe by a day,” asserted Dikshit while accusing SP government for cheating the public on the development as well as on fulfilling all the poll promises.