U'khand Cong to observe fast outside PM's residence against "step-motherly" treatment

Dehradun, Mar 17: The ruling Congress in Uttarakhand said it will sit on a 24-hour fast outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in Delhi to protest against the Centre's "step-motherly" treatment meted out to the state.

Accusing BJP-led government at the Centre of imposing a substantial cut of Rs 2,200 crore on the assistance given to Uttarakhand, the Congress said it will sit on a 24-hour fast outside Modi's residence on March 24.

"Despite repeated requests made by Chief Minister Harish Rawat, no funds have been allocated by the NDA for preparation either in view of the 'Char Dham' yatra beginning next month or for the 'Ardha Kumbh' mela to be held on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar next year," Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Kishore Upadhyay said.

"Pradesh Congress will protest against a 14-point charter of issues including the Centre's allegedattitude of indifference to the hill state," Upadhyay said.

The issues include the Centre ignoring the state government's proposals on Namami Gange project, non-allocation of a special industrial package to the state, non-reduction of the prices of petroleum products despite falling prices of crude in the international market, refusal to pay arrears of sugarcane growers and non-repatriation of Indian black money stashed abroad.

The PCC president said this attitude to the calamity ravaged state was hard to understand considering the fact that people voted BJP's all five Lok Sabha candidates to victory.

PTI