Cong demands 'white paper' on Bundekhand drought

Lucknow, Feb 7 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh Congress today demanded by the Mayawati government immediately issue a 'white paper' on the Bundelkhand drought issue, besides giving details of the central funds available with them.

''Chief Minister Mayawati is only interested in playing politics over the dead bodies in Bundelkhand region whereas all the funds sent by the Centre for the region remain unutilised,'' claimed UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

She also charged the BSP government with ignoring the genuine requirement of the people of the Bundelkhand region, which was the main reason for suicides by the farmers and starvation deaths.

''Most of the deaths reported in the region were those of Dalits, the CM is keeping mum over the issue and just making political allegation against the Congress government to cover up the issue'', Ms Joshi said.

The UP Congress president has also written a letter to Ms Mayawati giving details about the death of 72 people in Bundelkhand due to drought.

Talking to reporters here, Ms Joshi said people could know the real facts about the 'culprit' behind the starvation deaths of Bundelkhand only through the white paper having all financial and development details.

She said that already two central teams have visited the Bundelkhand region and have submitted their preliminary reports to the centre.'' In the reports, they have mentioned that there was no shortage of funds and several crore of rupees in the current financial year was yet to be utilised'', she claimed.

Giving some details of the funds given by the Centre to UP in 2007-08, Ms Joshi said altogether Rs 28,561 crore have been give to the state for development work.

UNI MB NAB VD HT1814