Priyanka terms UP 'land of crimes'

Amethi, Apr 25 (UNI) Castigating the non-Congress regimes in Uttar Pradesh, AICC president Sonia Gandhi's daughter and party 'star campaigner' Priyanka Vadra today alleged instead of developing the state, the former have made it number one in crime rate.

''Unfortunately, UP has left Bihar behind in crime rate. The non-Congress governments are busy dividing the society in the name of religion and caste. They always encourage corruption and terrorism, besides making the state top the crime chart,'' Priyanka told an election meeting here.

Upbraiding the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime, she underlined, ''the UPA government at the Centre never meted out step-motherly treatment to UP. My mother Sonia Gandhi had provided Rs 450 crore to Mr Yadav for development works. Sadly, the funds were either misutilised or not utilised at all.'' ''I have come here to represent my mother and brother Rahul Gandhi. Since, I do not hold any important position in Congress, I cannot make any announcement. But, I will never forget my sole responsibility towards you,'' she noted.

Reminiscing the role of the Nehru-Gandhi family in India's history, Priyanka said ''there is a lot of prestige attached to the ongoing assembly poll in UP. Therefore, please take the election seriously and make Congress win.'' ''Because of my family, the nation is keeping a close eye on Rae Bareli, Amethi and Sultanpur elections. The poll will reveal your closeness with our family,'' she observed.

UNI