The colour of elections dominated the colour of Independence Day in Lucknow on Monday when UP chief minister Mayawati used the occasion to accuse the UPA government of holding back financial assistance to UP and hampering development.
In her Independence Day speech, the chief minister said, “We have yet to receive any financial assistance under the `80,000-crore package we had demanded from the Centre for undertaking developmental projects, particularly in Bundelkhand and Purvanchal regions. However, with its limited resources, our government has taken up several schemes for the welfare of the people of the regions and ensured all round development.”
The chief minister said that maintaining law and order was the top priority of her government and she had curbed crime in the state. “The serious efforts of my government have thrown up desired results and crime against women and deprived sections of society have come down. I have never compromised on law and order and stern action has been taken against those committing laxity while good police officers were encouraged. My government had also succeeded in curbing Maoist and Naxal activities in eastern UP,” she said.
Ms Mayawati said that the government had taken action on reports of atrocities against dalits and women and added that she was aware of the problems of minorities and was making serious efforts to address them soon.
Listing the achievements of her government, the chief minister said that a great deal of work has been done for providing basic amenities in rural areas. “We have implemented a new land acquisition policy after inviting suggestions from farmers because we want to involve farmers in the development of the country. We are also serious about generating employment opportunities and my government has approved 2.25 lakh new posts in police department,” she said.
Ms Mayawati added the Janhit Guarantee Act was introduced providing guarantee of services to the people and her government had also decided to launch a scheme for integrated development of dalit localities. ”The government also paid attention towards employment and 1.09 lakh sanitation workers, 88,000 primary teachers and 5,000 Urdu teachers were recruited,” she said. She said the government was also making efforts in the power and infrastructure sector; the government had adopted a new economic policy of public private partnership.