Reacting to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's claim that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-led government is trying to take credit for the inauguration of a permanent campus of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) in Amethi, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) on Saturday said the government is dedicating the institute to the people of Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking to ANI, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Amethi, Rahul should have come for the inaugural function.
"We are not taking credit, is it wrong to dedicate it to the students and society of UP, so who is taking credit. Let him come to his constituency and take credit. Why is he shying away from coming," he said.
Pradhan further said that despite his request to Rahul Gandhi to reconsider his decision, he refused to attend as he had some prior engagements.
In a letter addressed to the Petroleum Minister, Rahul Gandhi said the legislation to erect a permanent campus in his constituency was brought by the UPA government and asked the government not take credit for it.
He further said that he would not able to attend the ceremony since it wasn't scheduled on a mutually convenient date.
Apart from Pradhan, Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Prakash Javadekar will be present for the today's function.