MP CM charges the UPA govt with step motherly treatment

New Delhi, Oct 6 (UNI) Accusing the UPA government at the Centre of 'step motherly' treatment, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said anti-incumbency would not be a factor in the coming Assembly elections as the BJP government has done a lot for development of the state and empowerment of women and downtrodden sections of the society.

Interacting with UNI journalists at the News Agency headquarters here, Mr Chouhan said in view of the grave drought situation in Bundelkhand, he had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh four times and sought the Centre's help but no assistance was provided to the state government.

Despite assurance that Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar would visit the state to review the drought situation, nothing happened.

The Centre did not even meet the state request to increase the share of APL wheat quota from 11000 MT to 1.19 lakh MT as was being given to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. 'Hurt' by the Congress government's attitude, the Chief Minister decided to fight the drought with the state goverment's resources.

Moreover, the Central government reduced the power outlay to the state from 350 MW to 31 MW and coal distribution from 14 MT to 12 MT and also delayed the completion of two proposed power plants the contracts for which had been given to the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. The non-cooperation of the Congress-led UPA government was aimed to ensure that the power supply situation in the state should not improve so that the state government did not get advantage during the polls.

Claiming that programmes and schemes of his government have resulted in the Madhya Pradesh coming out from the BIMARU states to the developing state category, the Chief Minister said that now he aimed it to become a developed one by improving the infrastructure facilities especially power irrigation so that farming becomes a lucrative profession. Moreover, an atmosphere conducive to setting up more industries be made.

Mr Chouhan said that his goverment had also invited Tata, which has relocated its Nano plant from Singur, to come and set up its plant in Madhya Pradesh. ''We have made an offer to them, but not going after them holding red carpet,'' he clarified. The site which the state government has offered has all the infrastructure facilities like roads, power, raw material and an existing automobile industry, he added.

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