Two months after getting a reprieve from the Allahabad High Court in the controversial land purchase in the district, actor Amitabh Bachchan laid the foundation stone of a girls college in the name of his daughter-in-law and actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, at a function in Barabanki at Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
Bachchan, wife Jaya, son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya along with Samajawadi Party leaders Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav attended the function, which coincided with the Samajwadi Party general secretary's birthday.
After the bhoomi pujan, Bachahan laid the foundation stone of the 'Aishwarya Bachchan girls inter college'.
Besides the glamour and glitz provided by the presence of the Bachchans, a galaxy of United National Progressive Alliance leaders including Telugu Desam Party's N Chandrababu Naidu, National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah, INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala and actress-turned-politician Jayaprada were present on the occasion.
"I am grateful, I have been given this honour by the elders in our family," said Aishwarya. She added that it would have been better if her husband Abhishek's grandfather Harivansha Rai Bachchan or grandmother Teji Bachchan, her father-in-law Amitabh or mother-in-law Jaya had received the honour before her.
About a month and a half ago, the Allahabad High Court had cleared Amitabh of all charges in the land deal and also ordered that no criminal or civil prosecution be launched against him.
The court also accepted Amitabh's plea of giving up his claim on the gram sabha land.
A large number of people had gathered at the venue, with enthusiastic SP workers donning red caps and chanting slogans for Bachchans, Mulayam Singh and others leaders.
