Mayawati opposes Rahul proposal for Bundelkhand Authority

Lucknow, July 31 (PTI) With Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi batting for an inter-state Bundelkhand Development
Authority, Mayawati government Friday opposed any move by the
Centre to constitute such a body saying it would adversely hit
centre-state relations.

In a letter shot off to India's Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, locked
in a bitter turf war with Rahul who is spearheading Congress'
bid to revive itself in the state, said, "Constituting such an
authority, which probably is against the constitution is not
the need of the hour.
"The state needs a financial package and not the
Authority," it said adding people of Bundelkhand "should not
be dragged into such politics".

Revealing the contents of Mayawati's letter, Cabinet
Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said that constitution of
such an authority would hit the very basis of centre-state
relations, would amount to imposing central rule in the region
and demanded a Special Area Incentive Package for Bundelkhand
region instead.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo's letter came
days after Rahul Gandhi along with a delegation of Congress
leaders from the state met the Prime Minister and demanded
implementation of a central report which had recommended a
package of Rs 8000 crore for Bundelkhand along with the
creation of a separate Bundelkhand Development Authority.

Rahul Friday said Congress will do whatever that is
required for the people of Bundelkhand. "We have submitted a
memorandum to the PM (on Bundelkhand). Discussion is going on
the issue and we will see how we can do it."

Mayawati said "the state government feels that there
should be no politics as far as development is concerned."

"Administrative mechanism of Uttar Pradesh could
effectively tackle the problems related to local development.
Its comparison with North-Eastern Council was neither required
nor correct."

Assuring full cooperation for the development of
Bundelkhand, the Chief Minister referred to the implementation
of the recommendations of the Samra Committee and said that Rs
80,000 crore package focusing on Bundelkhand region should
also be sanctioned.

The letter said that the Bundelkhand region should be
given priority in allocation of major central sector projects
like setting up of rail coach factories and others.

She expressed hope that the Prime Minister would not
only give the people of Bundelkhand their due, but would also
ensure development of the region. PTI