Lalu criticises Maya for politics on land

New Delhi, Oct 13 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today severely criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for playing petty politics by cancelling allotment of land to the Railways in Rae Bareli for setting up a coach factory.

Talking to newspersons, the Railway Minister said that the project for setting up the Railway Coach factory at Rae Bareli was approved by Parliament to help the poor in the region by providing them jobs. The project in UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's constituency was aimed at development of the region.

He refuted the plea taken by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister that the land cancellation was done because of resentment among farmers of the area. "It is not an agricultural land," Mr Prasad said.

The Chief Minister had played narrow politics just two days ahead of Bhoomi Pujan of the project which was to take place on October 14.

Mr Prasad said that as the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had directed to maintain status quo on the land, the Ministry would wait till the next hearing of the case on October 22.

UNI KAS RP HS1938