Rahul Gandhi meets Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, July 28 (ANI): AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here on Tuesday.

Gandhi urged Dr. Singh to get formed a separate Bundelkhand authority for overall development of the region in Uttar Pradesh.

"Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, we have met the Prime Minister. We have pointed out to him because it concerns two states. They are interlinked and can't be divided. Therefore, the overall strategy for the development of Bundelkhand should be drawn up together. For that, a separate Bundelkhand authority should be created," AICC General Secretary in-charge of UP Digvijay Singh said after the meeting at the residence of the PM.

"All the funds should be channelised through that (authority) so that the poverty can be eradicated at the earliest," Singh added.

Singh said this was necessary to put a stop to the fast worsening situation of the region reeling under poverty, illiteracy and underdevelopment.

"Last summer, Rahul had travelled throughout the length and breadth of Bundelkhand. He had seen the misery of the people where they are suffering from acute poverty, lack of drinking water, lack of employment and lack of literacy. He had approached the Prime Minister to send a team and make out an overall strategy for the development of Bundelkhand. The report has now come which is pending with the Government. We have requested Rahul Gandhi to lead us," he said.

Gandhi had visited the region last year and said it was on the verge of collapse. He accused the local administration of failing to deliver to the people and forcing them to migrate.

He blamed the Uttar Pradesh Government for not doing enough to protect the farmers who in extreme cases resorted to suicides.

During his visit, he blamed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for not distributing the funds to the needy.

Gandhi was accompanied by a delegation of Congress leaders.

The delegation led by Gandhi comprised MPs, MLAs and leaders from both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

UPCC chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Pradeep Jain and PCC office-bearers from both the states were part of the delegation.

The State Congress Party has again demanded a separate state of Bundelkhand to be carved out of Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)