By IANS
New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here Monday to press for a development package for the state and came away happy with the talks, indicating that her threat to withdraw support to the government has been put on hold.
“I had discussions with senior leaders of my party on the issue of withdrawal of support to the union government earlier. I decided that before taking a final decision, I should meet the prime minister. Today we met in a cordial atmosphere and I put up all the issues. The prime minister heard me with full attentiveness and I am sure of a positive outcome from the meeting,” she said.
Party sources said Mayawati discussed urgent approval of proposals and packages pending with the union government. Among the issues discussed was the Taj International Airport Project slated to come up in Greater Noida and sanctioning of Rs.800 billion special package for development of backward regions of Bundelkhand and Purvanchal in the state.
Allocation of blocks of coal for new thermal power projects and release of Rs.91.78 billion for different schemes, were also brought up during the meeting.
The chief minister also discussed her pending demand for enhancement of her security to Special Protection Group (SPG) from National Security Guard (NSG).
Mayawati also mentioned the three cases she wants the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe – the case relating to release of an allegedly communal CD by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders during the state elections in April, food grain allotment scam for below poverty line families, and the police recruitment scam.
Relations between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government and the central government have soured since the Presidential elections. While Mayawati had supported the candidature of Pratibha Patil for president, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had reportedly soft-pedalled on the corruption case against her in the Taj Heritage Corridor scam.
A press communiqué issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that all steps would be taken for the welfare of Uttar Pradesh. He referred to the special group he has constituted under the chairmanship of B.K. Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission for preparing a road map for the rapid economic development of the state. Chaturvedi was also present at the meeting.
Singh assured Mayawati that a special plan for development of the Bundelkhand region would be prepared with the help of the Planning Commission.
The Prime Minister also drew attention to financial allocation made to the state under various central government programmes. The total resources available to the state under 11th Plan (2007-12) will be Rs.2.8 trillion – 3.5 times the resources made available in the 10th Five Year Plan. Central assistance alone will be over Rs.800 billion during the plan period.