Cautioning leaders against politicisation of issues that effect the country’s progress, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today said development and welfare programmes must be implemented without any hurdles.‘‘Politics should never be allowed to come in the way of development of the country and states and hamper progress. None should try to obstruct development and people’s welfare,’’ Gandhi said launching Bhopal Municipal Corporation’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Project (JNNUR).Implementation of development programmes should be definitely monitored and voice must be raised in case of lapses and irregularities, Gandhi said.‘‘However, utmost care should be taken to ensure that there is no hurdle and obstruction in development activities,’’ she said.Though the country’s population has increased around three times since independence, urban population has risen almost five fold due to large-scale migration of people from villages to the cities in search of livelihood, she said.In a bid to check the exodus from rural areas to urban centres, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had launched the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, which provides 100 days of employment annually to poor families, Gandhi said.Stating that no project can be successful without active participation of all sections of society, Gandhi said water from Narmada river would be supplied to Bhopal under JNNURP.‘‘It will not only fulfill a long pending demand of the people of Bhopal but also provide them with clean and safe drinking water,’’ she said.Other major cities like Jabalpur, Indore and Ujjain have also been included in the project to provide the people with all essential civic amenities, Gandhi said.Speaking on the occasion, Governor Balram Jakhar said a collaborative effort should be made to ensure country’s progress and prosperity. The Centre was providing adequate cooperation and help for the development of Madhya Pradesh, he added.Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said despite political and ideological differences, ‘‘we are one as far as development and people’s welfare is concerned. No hurdles will be allowed to come in way of development.’’Claiming reduction in foodgrains quota for the state, Chouhan said it should be reversed and plan outlay for the state should be allocated on the basis of its population.
