Manmohan's statement on UP comes under fire

Lucknow, Dec 23 (UNI) The ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh today slammed the statement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the state's need for a forward-looking leadership, saying Congress-ruled states fared much worse than UP.

Reacting to the statement made by the PM earlier today, senior SP leader and state agriculture minister Dr Ashok Bajpai said UP was being managed much better than the Congress-ruled states.

The minister also maintained the state government was not seeking ''donations'' from the Centre. ''We are seeking a fair contribution by the Centre for the state's development.'' Dr Singh today said UP desperately ''needs a forward looking and modern leadership.'' ''The people of UP need a government, that will invest in their future,'' Dr Singh said after presenting the Laxmipat Singhania-IIM Lucknow National Leadership Awards in New Delhi.

Hitting out at the Mulayam Singh Yadav government, he said in the recent years, UP had been held back by a leadership that only thought about the past.

''People need a leadership that is thinking about the future,'' he observed.

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