UP not utilising central funds well, alleges Sonia

LUCKNOW: After a lull, BSP and Congress have renewed their attack on each other. Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday criticised the Mayawati government for ‘not implementing’ centrally-aided welfare schemes ‘properly’.

She urged people to seek a detailed account of money sent by the Centre to the state for development. On a visit to Rae Bareli, Ms Gandhi alleged that though the Centre has been sending huge funds to the state government for welfare programmes, people were not getting their due.

Addressing a public gathering, Ms Gandhi said that despite providing all help to the state government, its attitude towards development of Rae Bareli and Amethi was evident to everybody.

Last week, Chief Minister Mayawati had attacked Congress and alleged that the UPA government was biased against the state and was not sending enough funds. She alleged that the UPA government had a step-motherly attitude towards Uttar Pradesh.

Ms Gandhi chose to counter both charges and blamed the state government for not utilising central funds and schemes properly. The two parties had a brief cooling off period when CBI adopted a softer position against Mayawati in her disproportionate assets case and BSP continued with her support of the UPA government during the cut motion last month.

However, soon Mayawati made it clear that Congress continued to be on her target when she renewed her attack.