Sonia slams Mulayam; hopes Centre-UP relations were better

Rae Bareli, May 3 (UNI) Slamming the Samajwadi Party-led government in Uttar Pradesh for ignoring the interests of the people and indulging in ''low-level politics,''Congress president Sonia Gandhi today asserted that better Centre-UP relations could help in the overall development of the state.

Addressing an election rally at Saraini assembly segment here, Ms Gandhi alleged the Mulayam Singh Yadav government was not using the central funds as ''it thinks the central-aided projects will give me undue political advantage.'' Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi had also been making similar claims during his campaign trail for his mother.

Ms Gandhi, who is seeking re-election to Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli, claimed the SP regime was ignoring the interests of people to derive political mileage.

''They do not believe in development, but in harming me,'' she claimed, adding that the state government had recently refused to accept a Rs 265 crore central project for the Indira Gandhi Canal in Rae Bareli. ''This move will only create problems for the people,'' she noted.

The Congress chief, however, expressed hope that the state government would work in tandem with the Centre for the overall development of common man.

''I wonder whether Rae Bareli is a part of UP,'' she quipped.

The Congress President, who reached the rally site three hours behind schedule, also slammed the opposition parties for raking up the issue of office of profit.

''Since, I have been working for people in an impartial manner, it is my duty to seek a fresh mandate after the opposition alleged that I was holding office of profit.'' Responding to Mr Yadav's election speech here yesterday, Ms Gandhi observed her 'sanskar' (culture) does not allow her to utter such language as being used by the opposition parties.

The Congress chief later left in a carcade for Satawan assembly segment to address another rally.

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