Priyanka Vadra terms UP as 'land of crimes'

Amethi, Apr 25: Castigating the non-Congress regimes in UttarPradesh, AICC president Sonia Gandhi's daughter and party 'starcampaigner' Priyanka Vadra today alleged instead of developing thestate, the former have made it number one in crime rate.

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

Upbraiding the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime, she underlined, ''theUPA government at the Centre never meted out step-motherly treatment toUP. My mother Sonia Gandhi had provided Rs 450 crore to Mr Yadav fordevelopment works. Sadly, the funds were either misutilised or notutilised at all.'' ''I have come here to represent my mother andbrother Rahul Gandhi. Since, I do not hold any important position inCongress, I cannot make any announcement. But, I will never forget mysole responsibility towards you,'' she noted.

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

UNI