Amroha: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday came down heavily on non-Congress parties saying their successive governments in Uttar Pradesh in the past 22 years had failed to develop the state`s infrastructure.

Despite huge funds provided by the Centre to the state, "Uttar Pradesh now stands where it was 22 years ago", he told an election rally at GIC ground here. "The governments that ruled the state for the last 22 years have failed to develop UP," Singh said alleging the central funds were misused by non-Congress dispensations.
In the last seven years, funds for development of the state were increased six-fold, he said. "We have provided funds and waived loans of farmers to the tune of nearly Rs 7,000 crore but the role of the state remains dubious," the Prime Minister said.
The Centre also provided Rs 9,500 crore to the state for development of roads which were still in a bad shape, he said.
Talking about the sugar cane-rich western UP, the Prime Minister alleged instead of developing small-scale industries, the state government almost killed them.
"Instead of their revival, co-operative sugar mills were sold by the UP government at throwaway prices," he said.
"We have given Rs 1,140 crore to the state government for revival and development of the sugar industry," Singh said.
Fertilisers, meant for farmers, did not reach them, he said.
The Prime Minister also attacked the Mayawati government saying "the law and order in the state is in a shambles."
Wooing Muslims, the Prime Minister said "we have chosen 90 Muslim-populated districts for special packages, and 21 of them are in UP."
For safeguard of properties belonging to Waqf, a new Waqf bill would be introduced in Parliament, he said.
Praising the rich Ganga-Jamuni culture of the district, the Prime Minister said Amroha was the place from where former Prime Minister and farmer leader Chaudhary Charan Singh hailed.
Charan Singh`s son Ajit Singh, who is RLD head, was present at the election rally.
"Chaudhary Charan Singh rendered great service in rural areas, and the country was indebted to him for this," Singh said.
PTI