The Hindu : No differences with BJP, says Mayawati

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 23, 2002

National

National

No differences with BJP, says Mayawati

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 22. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Mayawati, has denied reports of differences with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the State and said that certain elements were using the media to drive "a wedge" between the two coalition partners.

"There are no differences, no confrontation... nothing of that sort,'' she told presspersons here on Friday. The media often "twisted'' reports and published "concocted'' stories at the behest of "some elements'' to create differences, she alleged.

"I never said that the BJP joined hands with the BSP out of political compulsions or that it had no other choice. Such reports are being published as part of a conspiracy,'' she said, but declined to identify the "conspirators."

Replying to a query, Ms. Mayawati said the Uttar Pradesh Government was "very stable'' and would complete its full term. Her Ministry would be expanded the moment she got the list from the BJP. "We have an understanding that 50 per cent of the Ministers will be from the BSP and 50 per cent from the BJP.''

Ms. Mayawati, aware of the need to arrest the economic downslide of the State, said her Government would ensure that those investing in Uttar Pradesh enjoyed total safety and security.

" Law and order in the State would be maintained by my Government and the industrialists running their establishments would have no trouble on this score,'' she said here today, interacting with the media and top-notch industrialists of the country.

Her assurance assumes significance as many industrialists had started shifting their manufacturing bases from the State because of poor law and order situation. Coupled with the new industrial promotion policy, it was lapped up by the industrialists as the right signal. The FICCI chief, R. S. Lodha, and the industrialist, Jai Parkash Gaur, who spoke on the occasion, said that they felt reassured and expressed the optimism that the State would grow and do well economically. Mr. Gaur cited a personal experience to say that things which had been pending with the Government for years had started moving within a month.

Earlier, speaking after the elaborate presentation of the State's new industrial policy, Ms. Mayawati extended an open invitation to the industrialists to choose Uttar Pradesh for their future investments, as the "right atmosphere" was being created for them.

Hers was an industry-friendly Government, she said, adding that all their legitimate aspirations would be met.

She also drew the attention of the audience to the salient features of the new policy and some bold decisions of her Government.

She said she was addressing the major problems faced by the industrialists in relation to power, labour and environment. Legislative changes were being brought about to remove the `hurdles.'

Ms. Mayawati said that the State Government was planning to set up Taj Economic Zone and a similar zone near Varanasi. It was also encouraging captive power generation to get over the problem of power shortage.

Her Government had proposed two international airports — at Agra and Kushinagar. She had discussed the issue with the Prime Minister. The right concessions and incentives were now available to the investors apart from the necessary infrastructural support.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National