Centre targetting industrialists investing in UP: Mulayam

Lucknow, Mar 11 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today charged the centre with targetting the industrial houses of Sahara, Reliance and Khaitan for investing in the state.

''It is unfortunate that the centre is making all efforts to derail investments in UP by victimising those who wish to invest in the state'' Mr Yadav alleged.

Replying to the budget debate, the Chief Minister, taking up the case of Sahara, said raids were being conducted against them for their ''closeness with the Samajwadi Party government.'' Commenting on the Sahara case, he maintained there was no owner of the company, while 11 lakh employees were its shareholder. ''It is unfortunate that Income Tax raids were conducted in 80 places recently.'' He said opposition parties, especially Congress, was raising the bogey of law and order problem in UP to scare away investors.

Mr Yadav also announced that Rs 4,000 crore investment had been made in the sugar industry and by the next financial year, UP would be the leading state in sugar production.

He also clarified that additional 1,420 megawatt power would be available to UP by next financial, which would to some extent ease the problem of power shortage.

UNI MB VS VD BS1802