'UP refusing central funds for fear of mileage'

Rae Bareli, Apr 29: Continuing his tirade against the ruling SP government in Uttar Pradesh, Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi today said the fear of helping AICC president Sonia Gandhi gain political mileage was stopping the state government from accepting central funds for the development of Rae Bareli.

Rahul had been continuously targetting the Samajwadi Party government since Tuesday when he launched a election campaign in favour of his Ms Gandhi, seeking re-election to the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat on May 8.

Addressing a 'nukkad' meet at Dipramau village here, Rahul said the SP's mentality that any development work carried out with central funds would provide Ms Gandhi political mileage was stopping the state government from accepting money from the Government of India.

''Kisan barbad ho raha hai... (The farmer is at the losing end),'' he said. The Amethi MP claimed that water was the biggest problem for the people of Rae Bareli.

''Yesterday, I was talking with locals. They claimed that at least the water problem should be fixed at the earliest,'' he said.

The young MP claimed that by refusing a central funded project of Rs 265 crore, the state government was stopping the local populace from benefitting.

On Thursday in Rae Bareli and yesterday in the state capital, party spokespersons had distributed the communication between the state government and the Centre with regard to the former's ''refusal to accept the centrally funded project.'' The Congress asserted that UP's refusal to avail of the project had left the problem of irrigation and drinking water unsolved in Rae Bareli district.

''The state government declined funds under a consolidated Extension, Renovation and Modernisation (ERM) project for the Sharda Sahayak Canal System approved by the centre,'' UP Congress chief spokesperson A P Singh said.

Mr Singh claimed the project could not be implemented because the state government said it did not require funds for the purpose under the scheme.

''Despite the apathy of the Samajwadi Party-led state government, Ms Gandhi has undertaken several steps for the welfare of people with the help of the centre,'' Rahul said.

The Congress leader emphasised his party was committed to the development of Rae Bareli in every possible way.

Since Tuesday, Rahul has addressed several public meetings in the high profile constituency. ''The Gandhi family shares a seasoned bond with Rae Bareli. When my grandmother late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi represented this constituency, good development was witnessed here,'' he had claimed yesterday.

He listed several schemes related to roads, drinking water and employment, which were ushered in following the victory of Ms Sonia Gandhi from the segment in 2004.

The Rae Bareli bypoll was necessitated following the resignation of Ms Gandhi from the LS seat over the post of profit controversy.

UNI