- Photo: Subir Roy

POLL TIME: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing an election rally at GIC Ground in Lakhimpur Kheri on Friday.

LAKHIMPUR-KHERI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday charged the Mulayam Government with misutilising Central funds meant for the welfare of the different sections of society.

Had the money been utilised properly and the Central schemes implemented in the right earnest, Uttar Pradesh would have presented a different picture of development and progress, Dr. Singh said.

Addressing an election meeting at the Government Inter-College Ground here, he ridiculed the unemployment allowance scheme of the State Government. Instead of giving dole, jobs should have been created for the unemployed. A total of 39 districts had been included in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, but the scheme was not implemented properly by the State Government. Under the Bharat Nirman Yojana, efforts would be made to bring electricity, roads and potable water to all villages in the State.

The Prime Minister stated that money had been given to the State for the appointment of two lakh new teachers, construction of 25,000 school buildings and one lakh classrooms. He added that under the Bharat Nirman Yojana, efforts would be made to bring electricity, roads and potable water to all the villages in Uttar Pradesh.

Condition of minorities

The condition of the minorities came in for special mention, with the Prime Minister saying that the Sachar Committee report had underlined the poor educational status of Muslims. This manifested in more Muslims becoming unemployed. Among the measures taken by the Centre for their uplift was the 15-point programme. Efforts were being made to introduce Urdu courses in schools in Muslim-dominated areas.

Dr. Singh had harsh words for the non-Congress Governments, and "their role in dividing society in the last 17 to 18 years." He accused these Governments of spilling blood in the name of "mandir and masjid, dividing the people along religion and caste lines, and robbing the State of peace and tranquillity."

The common man was not feeling secure as Uttar Pradesh had become synonymous with "goonda raj." Dalits, women and children were insecure as nothing had been done to curb atrocities against them. "Only the Congress is capable of restoring the rule of law in Uttar Pradesh."

Lack of development

While lamenting the lack of development and infrastructure facilities, Dr. Singh said it was regrettable that Uttar Pradesh was among the BIMARU States; even Haryana, which lagged behind the State in development, was moving up the ladder. The biggest socio-economic problem was poverty, he said, holding the non-Congress governments responsible for the deplorable situation. Dr. Singh said the Congress was determined to change the destiny of U.P. and restore the pride of place it once held. He exhorted the people to reject the narrow, parochial politics of the last 15 years and assist in putting the State back on the rails of development.

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