UP Minister balmes Congress for UP and Bihar's plight

New Delhi, Apr 23 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Water Resources Minister Om Prakash Singh today blamed the Congress led Government at the Centre for the plight of the people in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Addressing a large gathering organised to remember great freedom fighter Veer Kanwar Singh of the First war of Independence-- 1857, Mr Singh said the people should be inspired by the sacrifice of Kanwar Singh and Rani Laxmibai to work for the betterment and overall development of the country.

He said unless the economic conditions of the millions in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were improved, the nation could not be regarded as a developed country.

Directly charging Conress MP Sajjan Kumar, Congress leader and former MP Sanjay Nirupam, Singh said the Congress-led government at the Centre should give prime importance to eradicate poverty in these states.

The programme organised to commemorate the 149th victory over the Birtish rule in Jagdishpur of Bhojpur area of both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar turned out to be the war of words between the Samajwadi Party and Congress.

Both Sanjay Nirupam and Sajjan Kumar countered the statement and said these states had been underdeveloped as the successive state governments failed to initiate steps to implement development programmes.

The younger generation should remember such freedom fighters to march forward for a better future, said Mr Nirupam.

Former Governor Madan Lal Khurana appealed the Delhi Government to place a statue of Bhai Kanwar Singh and name a lane in the name of the great leader so that the younger people would remember him for posterity.

Former Governor Vhishma Narayan Singh felicitated Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Director CVK Rao for his contribution for the betterment of Delhi.

Veer Kanwar Singh Foundation President Nirmal Singh declared that due to the efforts of the foundation, the NCERT has intorduced a chapter in the school books.

He said Veer at the age of 80 had fought valiantly against the British rule in 1857. Had he been younger, the course of the first war of independence would have been different, he said citing pages of history.

The Manmohan Singh government has decided to install a statue of the great freedom fighter in the Parliament premises, Singh said.

UNI PAT SHB HT2107