MP minister lays 1,135 foundation stones in a day

It takes only poll-time urgency for a whopping 1,135 foundation stones to be laid together in the presence of thousands of voters...

It takes only poll-time urgency for a whopping 1,135 foundation stones to be laid together in the presence of thousands of voters brought from various parts of one Assembly segment. Rehli is not likely to ring a bell but it8217;s in this town of Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh that the record-breaking feat was achieved on Thursday.

Agriculture and Co-operation Minister Gopal Bhargava, who represents the constituency, not only laid the foundation stones, each marking either a future development work or dedication of a completed project, but also distributed cheques to beneficiaries of Government schemes and cycles to girl students.

Except that it was done within a few hours, 1,135 does not sound too big a number when the minister tells you that he has laid not less than 8,000 stones over the past four-and-a-half years. That8217;s quite a large number; nearly one development work per seven voters who chose him over Congress candidate last year.

The minister8217;s fascination for numbers is evident because he chose the 11th day an auspicious Gyaras day according to Hindu calendar to lay more than 1,100 stones.

When asked if the flurry of works has made Rehli one of the most developed constituencies in the state, CEO of Rehli Janpad Panchayat replies with only a chuckle.

From school building to roads to expansion of marketing yards to waiting rooms for farmers, stones laid on Thursday involved works to be carried out by 16 government departments.

Given that Bhargava8217;s portfolios are co-operation and agriculture, it was not difficult for him to bring crowds. Government sources said more than 25,000 people turned out on Thursday from across the constituency to take part in a 8216;Kisan Mela8217; organised simultaneously by the Government.

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Officers of district administration also presided over a 8216;Lok Kalyan8217; camp organised on the occasion.

8220;No girl in the region would remain unmarried for want of money,8221; the maverick minister announced on the occasion. He has already arranged for marriage of 4,000 girls.

Voters regard the minister who had shot to fame after his famous remarks asking Brahmins not to beg for reservation as a local version of Robin Hood.

SDM Rehli Sanjiv Srivastava said he had never experienced something like this before. 8220;If the constituency has really developed at the pace he promises then the Chief Minister should take a leaf out of his book,8221; quipped Govind Singh Rajput, a Congress MLA from Surkhi, a neighbouring constituency.