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Rajeswar blames Centre for lack of development

LUCKNOW: Faced with an unprecedented form of protest against the ruling dispensation with black banners and black balloons being waved at him, Uttar Pradesh Governor T.V. Rajeswar, in his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of the State Legislature — which he could not complete — blamed the UPA government for not cooperating in the State’s development.

As the entire Opposition, sans the Bharatiya Janata Party, stalled Mr. Rajeswar’s address he left the House without completing it. As pandemonium prevailed, the opening proceedings of the Budget session lasted barely a minute before the Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sukhdev Rajbhar adjourned the House.

Stating that the development of a State was not possible without the Centre’s cooperation, the Governor said the U.P. government adopted a path of cooperation instead of collision with the Central government, and “made constant efforts to stick to that stand.” Accordingly, the State government expected the required cooperation from the Centre, Mr. Rajeswar stated.

In the absence of required financial assistance, the Bahujan Samaj Party government was facing difficulty in implementing development schemes, he pointed out. The Governor emphasised that it is a well-known fact that without the development and prosperity of Uttar Pradesh the country’s progress is not possible.

On the drought situation in Bundelkhand, the Governor regretted that till date the State government’s request for a special package for the development of backward regions had not been accepted by the Union government.

Mr. Rajeswar stressed that despite limited resources and no positive reply from the Central Government, the U.P. government had prepared a work plan of Rs.1,600 crore for salvaging the Bundelkhand region. He said the government would not sit idle and expressed the optimism that the Centre would respond to Uttar Pradesh’s development needs.

The achievements of the Mayawati regime in various spheres were highlighted by Mr. Rajeswar.

As the Governor ascended the podium to begin his address, the Samajwadi Party members were on their feet raising black banners and black balloons to demean the Bahujan Samaj Party government. Raising slogans they demanded action against the accused in the Mukesh Yadav murder case. The student was killed in police firing in Saifai (Etawah ) in January. Some of the SP members burst the balloons.

The SP was joined by the Congress MLAs, who raised banners and placards to protest against the government’s stand on the starvation deaths and drought situation in Bundelkhand region.

The Rashtriya Lok Dal raised the issues of sugarcane arrears and plight of potato farmers. As pandemonium prevailed with some of Opposition MLAs moving towards the Speaker’s podium, the House was adjourned by the Speaker.

When the House reassembled, Naresh Agarwal of the Samajwadi Party pointed out that since the Governor had not read out his address, it could not be re-read by the Speaker.

Mr. Rajbhar, however, ruled that even reading the opening line is taken as reading out the address.

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