Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav meets PM, seeks Central funds

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded smooth transfer of funds for Central schemes like MNREGA and asked for help in holding the forthcoming Kumbh festival, cleaning of the Ganga and coal supply to the state.

Accompanied by senior officials, Akhilesh met Singh for over an hour to discuss his policies and programmes for Uttar Pradesh and the help he needed for implementing his schemes and ideas.

"We have not demanded any package for the state. It was a good meeting with the Prime Minister. A host of issues related to Uttar Pradesh including MNREGA, roads, problems related to coal shortage, the Kumbh Mela to be held soon and the Ganga cleaning project were discussed," Yadav told reporters after the meeting.

Yadav said he has demanded the Centre's help, including sanctioning of requisite funds, to the UP government.

"The Prime Minister has assured us that funds will be sent for all the schemes being implemented in the state," he said.

The Chief Minister said roads, power, and drinking water were the priority areas for the Samajwadi Party government in UP.

"Centre should grant these funds, only then will the development work reach the people. If UP moves on the path of progress, then the country will move on that path too," he said adding that UP being a big state, its progress matters in the overall development of the nation.

Akhilesh maintained that law and order is an important issue for his government. Asked what action is being taken on corruption cases involving his predecessor government headed by Mayawati, he said he is looking into the matter and results will be visible soon.

He insisted that those who built parks and placed elephants and their own statues there have already been punished by the electorate which has voted them out. Though this was a clear reference to Mayawati, he did not name the BSP Chief.

"We are putting new policies and schemes in place. You will see the results within three months," Yadav, who completed one month in office today, said.

Asked if NCTC issue came up for discussion with the Prime Minister, Akhilesh said security issues will come up for discussion in a separate meeting scheduled later.

He was referring to the Chief Ministers' conference called by the Centre on April 16 to discuss NCTC. The UP Chief Minister later paid a courtesy call on President Pratibha Patil.