Help in getting power, coal from Centre: CM to BJP

LUCKNOW: Taking a dig at the BJP for targeting his government on various issues, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday asked the saffron brigade leaders how they could help the state get more power and coal supply from the Centre.

Stressing that the Samajwadi Party government had been doing a lot of work for the state’s development and had even supported the UPA government on nuclear deal issue, the CM said: “BJP leaders should tell us how they will get more power and coal supply to the state.”

The CM remark came in reply to a question by BJP member Lakshmi Kant Bajpai in the state assembly on Investors Conclave organised by the state government in New Delhi on June 12.

A heated exchange of words was witnessed between the SP and the BJP leaders as both the sides tried to score a point on the issues concerning the price rise and populist promises.

Replying to the question, minister for dairy development Ram Murti Verma stated that Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to the tune of Rs 42,000 crore had been signed and investment proposals of Rs 12000 crore were considered at the conclave.

Chief minister said the SP government led by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had worked to set up sugar mills and the Maitreyi project in Kushinagar in east UP.

“A lot of work was being done on setting up the 4G technology (in Lucknow) even though the 2G and 3G technology was often referred as the ‘jijaji’,” said the chief minister in an obvious reference to the BJP’s attack on the UPA government for 2G scams.

Bajpai said the BJP having 73 MP s from the state would extend its full cooperation in getting more power and coal supply to the state and chief minister should provide a copy of his letters sent to the Centre to the BJP leaders.

Minister for parliamentary affairs Azam Khan said the prices of essential commodities – onion, potato and sugar etc. had gone up during the regime of the BJP that had betrayed the people by making false promises.

BJP legislature party deputy leader Satish Mahana said it was the SP that had betrayed the youths by withdrawing the unemployment allowance and the laptop distribution scheme.

Replying to a question by BSP member Dharam Pal Singh, minister of state for externally aided projects Ram Karan Arya said the state government was providing good facilities to the sportspersons. There was a provision for 2% reservation to sports persons on the posts outside the purview of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, he said.