Date:09/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/09/stories/2008040957020500.htm

Other States - Uttar Pradesh

Mayawati renews attack on Congress, Centre

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday renewed her attack on the Congress and said the Union Budget for 2008-09 had completely ignored the development needs of her State.

Addressing an election meeting at Bardahi Bazar in Karnailganj Assembly constituency in support of the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate, the Chief Minister appealed to the electorate to wreak vengeance on the Congress. She blamed the Congress for State’s backwardness. By ignoring the State’s demand for a Rs.80,000-crore package, UP had been pushed back on the development ladder, she charged.

The Chief Minister said separate packages for health, power, water and employment had also not approved by the Central Government, and nor had funds been allotted for the State’s development.

Stating that despite the resource crunch the development initiative had not been abandoned by her Government, Ms. Mayawati added that integrated development of over one lakh revenue villages would be undertaken under the Ambedkar Rural Integrated Development Scheme.

The Chief Minister said separate letters had been sent to the UPA Government for inclusion of 13 Most Backward Classes in the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and on the trifurcation of the State.

The Chief Minister rejected the accusation that her government had targeted the criminals belonging to a particular caste. Had it been the case, then former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh would have been behind bars, she remarked.

She charged the Samajwadi Party with involvement in the “conspiracy” to dismantle the Ambedkar Park. Assembly by-elections in Karnailganj (Gonda district), Muradnagar and Bilgram are slated for April 12.