Raj Cong slams BJP for renaming Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra

Condemning the Vasundhara Raje government’s decision to drop Rajiv Gandhi’s name from ‘seva kendras’ by replacing it with former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s name, Rajasthan Congress on Thursday said it was done deliberately with “narrow mindedness” of the state BJP government.

“Through a government order, the Rajasthan Rural Development and Panchayati Raj department renamed over 9,278 Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra and Jan Suvidha Kendra in villages after the name of former PM AB Vajpayee on the eve of latter’s birthday without caring former PM Rajivji,” PCC president Sachin Pilot said.

“Rajivji was also the Prime Minister who sacrificed his life for the nation. He also got Bharat Ratna, then why Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje did it?” he questioned. “The BJP government can give Atalji’s name to a new institution and Congress was not against Atalji who has also been conferred Bharat Ratna yesterday (Wednesday) ,” he said.

“Congress condemns this renaming. It is a narrow mindedness of a political party running the government in the state,” he said.

“This is not only deliberate but also showed their (BJP) ill-will and hatred towards great congressmen like Rajiv Gandhi who sacrificed his life for the nation,” the PCC chief said.

Earlier on December 21 at a public meeting in Jodhpur’s Kankani village, Raje had announced to open Atal Seva Kendra in Panchayats after former PM Vajpayee’s name, and on Thursday the order was issued to rename Jan Suvidha and Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra.

There are 33 Jan Suvidha Kendra, now Atal Suvidha Kendra at each district level, 245 Atal Seva Kendra in Panchayat Samiti, and 9,000 Atal Seva Kendra in village panchayts after renaming.