Atal Library inaugurated twice in 2 hours in Faridabad
Rift between Gurjar, Goel resurfaces
The party was left red-faced when a fresh power struggle between the local MLA and state ULB Minister Vipul Goel, and MP and Union minister Krishan Pal Gurjar became public on December 28, during the inauguration of the high-tech Atal Library here.
Goel, along with Rajya Sabha MP Surendra Nagar, performed the first ribbon-cutting ceremony around noon, and about two hours later, Gurjar inaugurated the library again. He stated he was officially invited as the chief guest and was unaware of the prior ceremony. The inauguration pictures went viral, hinting at the growing divide between them.
Goel, who had laid the foundation stone of the project in 2018, inaugurated the library in the town park. Addressing the gathering, he claimed that the project was his election manifesto promise and that he had worked hard to get it materialised.
Later, Gurjar ‘re-inaugurated’ it, crediting the project to the BJP government.
Goel was unavailable for comments, but speaking to 'The Tribune', Gurjar said he was the ‘official inaugurator'.
“I was to officially inaugurate it and my inauguration was approved. You can see the inaugural stone. All district officials were aware of it,” he said.
A senior BJP leader said while state ministers, like Goel, were getting projects approved, Gurjar was allegedly trying to steal the limelight. It had also been reported to the party high command.
“It was a state infrastructure project, which the state minister had been working on for years, and finally when it materialises, the MP comes in to steal the thunder. It is happening repeatedly. Gurjar has got nothing for Faridabad from the Centre, and just wants to take credit,” said the leader.
State BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli was not available for comments.
Goel and Gurjar were known as "Jai-Veeru" for their friendship, which soured around 2018 following a public dispute that went viral. They engaged in a heated exchange on the stage during Dasehra celebrations at the NIT ground.
Tensions peaked in 2019 when Goel was denied an Assembly ticket, a move his supporters attributed to Gurjar's influence. Before the 2024 elections, they made efforts to reconcile, appearing together to signal unity.
