BJP asks Smriti Irani to head UP ‘vikas parv’

With Uttar Pradesh emerging as the “do or die” battle for the BJP, the party leadership has asked HRD minister Smriti Irani to camp in Amethi to celebrate the “vikas parv” to mark the second anniversary of the Modi government at the Centre.

While no decision has yet been taken on the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate for the forthcoming UP polls, some feel that the party leadership was “grooming” Ms Irani for the top job. In Amethi, parliamentary constituency of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the Union minister has been showering gifts on people, ranging from a Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow’s satellite centre in the area, to e-rickshaws, a fertiliser rack, Agriculture Scientific Centre, an Army School, a Central school among other things.

On Thursday, at a function, Ms Irani also sounded confident when she said that “lotus will bloom” in the state after the Assembly elections scheduled early next year. However, Ms Irani parried all questions on her projection as the CM candidate by her party.

“I am just a party worker,” she replied to queries on the issue, adding that development will be her party’s poll plank. She claimed BJP workers and “the people of UP are ready to bring the BJP to power in the state.”

We are sure that lotus will bloom in Uttar Pradesh this time.”

The Union minister attended a series of functions in Amethi. In between the functions, she told reporters that the people of Amethi had always blessed her and she would continue working for their welfare and development.

Replying to a question on alleged “saffronization of education,” Ms Irani said, “The philosophy of education is to make you more capable, enhance skill, make you understand your constitutional responsibilities, how to be in harmony with your fellow citizens, your country. It gives you the learning of telling right over wrong. If that is what you call saffronisation of education, then I am happy to take that tag”.