Phagwara: Pressing for Congress Vice President to be made party's Prime Ministerial candidate, Union Minister Santosh Chowdhary on Monday said though a final decision was in the high command's hands, the common masses wanted to see him as the Prime Minister.
The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare said Rahul was fully capable and had the required potential to take up the top post.
"Rahul Gandhi is young and icon of youth. He moves among people. 'Janata' (people) wants him to see as the next Prime Minister. He has the potential and capability and should take up the baton," she told reporters here.
However, she charged BJP's Prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi of polarising and communalising the country's polity.
On the internal rift in Congress in Punjab over the newly constituted Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), she said it was unfortunate.
"The current developments in PPCC are unfortunate," she said, reacting to resignations by several leaders after the formation of the PPCC.
On her ministry's work, Santosh said the government will provide single unit platelet-separation devices to district hospitals in Punjab.
"With these ultramodern devices, only one unit of blood will be required for platelets' separation instead of four units required by devices now," she said.
She claimed that under National Rural Health Mission scheme, Rs 1.10 lakh crore were spent by UPA government on health facilities in the country.
"Rs 2,200 crore was spent in Punjab, with Rs 65 crore more provided for free medicine programme in the state," she said.
Earlier, Chowdhary handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh from her MP Local Area Development fund to a government school for construction of two class rooms, and alleged that there was lack of adequate infrastructure in schools of the state.
"I discussed it with him (Rahul) personally and the idea was to invite him for the youth conference but unfortunately he won't be here that day (January 7). I will discuss again. I hope comes for a day and spend some time with the foreign delegates," Ravi said.
Apart from that, the chief ministers' conference will also be an important session.
"There will be a separate session of chief ministers for those who are interested to discuss with them about opportunity of investment and how state governments can help them... The CMs can explain to them about available resources," said Ravi.
To be organised at Vigyan Bhavan, chief ministers of Gujarat, Kerala, Meghalaya, Goa and Haryana will deliver special address at the event.
"... I have invited all the chief ministers. I have also invited the new chief minister of Delhi...," Ravi said.
He said this year, his ministry will partner with the ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to host the event.
On a question whether this year's PBD will witness two PM candidates together, he said, "... We have invited only chief ministers... If any chief minister wants to aspire to become PM... I am helpless."
Asked to comment if Narendra Modi's presence and a separate session by BJP will help him woo NRIs, Ravi said, "I don't think presence of Modi or a speech... They can make so much of shift... If Modi could, he would have been PM 20 years ago. I don't think presence of a person can make much difference."
He maintained that Modi has taken part in previous PBDs.
"I have invited all the chief ministers and the BJP organises such meet every time. How can I prevent it?"
He also said that the Devyani Khobragade row seems to be over.
"I have not dealt with the subject...Government of India has its own view as it has to protect the citizens. Anything happens to them, we have to take it seriously and that is what the government has done. It (row) is almost over," he said in reply to a question.
"Rahul Gandhi is young and icon of youth. He moves among people. 'Janata' (people) wants him to see as the next Prime Minister. He has the potential and capability and should take up the baton," she told reporters here.
However, she charged BJP's Prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi of polarising and communalising the country's polity.
On the internal rift in Congress in Punjab over the newly constituted Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), she said it was unfortunate.
"The current developments in PPCC are unfortunate," she said, reacting to resignations by several leaders after the formation of the PPCC.
On her ministry's work, Santosh said the government will provide single unit platelet-separation devices to district hospitals in Punjab.
"With these ultramodern devices, only one unit of blood will be required for platelets' separation instead of four units required by devices now," she said.
She claimed that under National Rural Health Mission scheme, Rs 1.10 lakh crore were spent by UPA government on health facilities in the country.
"Rs 2,200 crore was spent in Punjab, with Rs 65 crore more provided for free medicine programme in the state," she said.
Earlier, Chowdhary handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh from her MP Local Area Development fund to a government school for construction of two class rooms, and alleged that there was lack of adequate infrastructure in schools of the state.
"I discussed it with him (Rahul) personally and the idea was to invite him for the youth conference but unfortunately he won't be here that day (January 7). I will discuss again. I hope comes for a day and spend some time with the foreign delegates," Ravi said.
Apart from that, the chief ministers' conference will also be an important session.
"There will be a separate session of chief ministers for those who are interested to discuss with them about opportunity of investment and how state governments can help them... The CMs can explain to them about available resources," said Ravi.
To be organised at Vigyan Bhavan, chief ministers of Gujarat, Kerala, Meghalaya, Goa and Haryana will deliver special address at the event.
"... I have invited all the chief ministers. I have also invited the new chief minister of Delhi...," Ravi said.
He said this year, his ministry will partner with the ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to host the event.
On a question whether this year's PBD will witness two PM candidates together, he said, "... We have invited only chief ministers... If any chief minister wants to aspire to become PM... I am helpless."
Asked to comment if Narendra Modi's presence and a separate session by BJP will help him woo NRIs, Ravi said, "I don't think presence of Modi or a speech... They can make so much of shift... If Modi could, he would have been PM 20 years ago. I don't think presence of a person can make much difference."
He maintained that Modi has taken part in previous PBDs.
"I have invited all the chief ministers and the BJP organises such meet every time. How can I prevent it?"
He also said that the Devyani Khobragade row seems to be over.
"I have not dealt with the subject...Government of India has its own view as it has to protect the citizens. Anything happens to them, we have to take it seriously and that is what the government has done. It (row) is almost over," he said in reply to a question.
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