The Congress on Thursday asked the Samajwadi Party to continue its support to the UPA government till December and in return, all Congress legislators from Uttar Pradesh would ask the Central government to increase the compensation given during natural calamities.
Uttar Pradesh revenue minister Ambica Choudhury said that if the Congress wanted SP support it should mind its own behaviour.
This exchange of words took place in the state Assembly on Thursday during Question Hour when the revenue minister said that compensation given during natural calamities was fixed by the Centre and added that the government would soon write a letter to request an enhancement in the compensation amount.
Mr Pramod Tiwari of Congress said that the state government was at liberty to increase the compensation amount.
The minister asked the Congress MLA to use his good offices and ask the Centre to increase the compensation amount, which led to the Congress legislator seeking an assurance of continued support at the Centre.
Earlier, while replying to a question the UP government said in the state Assembly that 339 people had died due to natural calamity in the state during 2012.
UP revenue minister Ambica Choudhury, while replying to a question posed by BJP member Shyamdeo Rai Choudhury, said here that while 202 people had died due to rainfalls or floods, the remaining 137 were killed in lightning.
He said that the kin of the deceased had been provided a compensation of `1.5 lakh each while the injured had been paid ex-gratia as per the norms.