BJP wants Kyoto, SP wants Santiago: The fight over developing Varanasi

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Biswajeet Banerjee | The News Minute | September 20, 2014 | 02:38 pm IST Which way will Varanasi swing â€“ Kyoto or Santiago? The question has cropped up after Akhilesh Yadav sent District Magistrate of Varanasi Pranjal Yadav to Santiago on a World Bank sponsored project to study its development model so that it could be implemented in Varanasi. Samajwadi Party (SP) government's decision comes on the heels of PM Narendra Modiâ€™s vision to develop Varanasi on the pattern of Kyoto, one of the oldest cities of Japan. In his recent five day visit to Japan, India signed a â€œPartner cityâ€ MoU with Japan to develop Varanasi into a smart city by using Kyoto's experience. â€œThe District Magistrate of Varanasi has gone to Santiago to study the development pattern there so that the same could be implemented in Varanasi. It is an innovative idea because the state government is committed for the development of Varanasi,â€ SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhry said. But what about Modiâ€™s proposal to develop Varanasi on the lines of Kyoto? â€œWe have read in newspapers that Prime Minister during his Japan visit had signed an MoU to develop Varanasi on the pattern of Kyoto. The Union Government had not consulted us (state government) before taking a final decision. So, in all practical purposes we do not know what exactly would be the format of development (on the lines of Kyoto),â€ Chaudhry, who is also cabinet rank minister in the government, said. Sources in the government say that Modi did telephone Akhilesh Yadav before the pact was inked. The UP Chief Minister had assured all help to Modi in development of Varanasi on the Kyoto pattern. Varanasi came to limelight after Modiâ€™s victory from this constituency. But in the recent assembly bye-elections Apna Dal, an ally of BJP, lost Rohnaia seat, which is part of PMâ€™s constituency. This victory emboldened Samajwadi Party and it went ahead with its model of developing Varanasi on the patterns of Santiago â€“ the capital city of Chile. Last week Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had launched a scheme to clean Varuna and Assi â€“ two rivers which flow through the heart of city and gives Varanasi its name. This scheme is said to be the answer to Modiâ€™s clean Ganga Project. â€œVaranasi would be developed on the pattern of Kyoto only. It is one of the oldest cities of Japan and like Varanasi has thousands of small temples,â€ Varanasi Mayor Ram Gopal Mohle said. Mohle, who is from BJP said, the Samajwadi Party is playing politics on the issue of development of Varanasi. â€œModi's wish will prevail. He is MP of Varanasi and moreover PM of the country,â€ he said.

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