Opposition sees poll gimmick in Centre146;s grant

The Uttaranchal Government8217;s claim that the Prime Minister cleared a Rs 18,000 crore 8220;special package8221; for the state during his Dehradun visit on October 19 has become a source of a major political controversy.

The Uttaranchal Government8217;s claim that the Prime Minister cleared a Rs 18,000 crore 8220;special package8221; for the state during his Dehradun visit on October 19 has become a source of a major political controversy. The manner in which the Congress government made the announcement, after the PM left the state, has invited derision from the opposition parties.

8220;The claims of the government regarding the special package for Uttaranchal is nothing more than a mockery of the people of the state. Why did the Prime Minister not announce the package himself? It is an election stunt,8221; BJP leader and former CM Bhagat Singh Koshiyari said today. Koshiyari added that most of the PM8217;s announcements were 8220;old8221; and 8220;an insult to the people8221;. He claimed that the NDA government was the one which had announced an industrial package for the state till 2013. 8220;The UPA first cut it down till 2007 and then raised it till 2010 to hoodwink the people,8221; he claimed.

Hours after the PM ended his visit to Uttaranchal on Thursday, the state government went to town about a special package granted to Uttaranchal for various schemes by the Centre. Interestingly, the PM had earlier during the visit announced a special Rs 100 crore grant for the Kumbh Mela.

With Assembly polls approaching, Congressmen thought the PM8217;s 8220;announcement8221; had come as a Diwali gift for the Tiwari government. But with the Opposition raising uncomfortable questions, it could leave many in the government groping for answers.

According to the release issued by the state information department, the Prime Minister has agreed to provide Rs 12,000 crore to Uttaranchal as part of the JNNURM. But Koshiyari says: 8220;Such announcements, that too by a state government, cannot be believed unless the money really comes.8221;

The Uttaranchal Government was expecting a special package for the state during the Congress Chief Ministers8217; conclave at Nainital last month. When that did not materialise, the disappointed state government announced that officials have been invited by the PM to discuss the package. When the package was finally announced, it had nothing new in it.

Now that government has again come out with an announcement, a sceptical Koshiyari says: 8220;The UPA withdrew the concession of 90 per cent grants and 10 per cent loan on central funds to Uttaranchal and have now announced to restore it.8221;

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Other political parties too have slammed the Congress for the announcement.

8220;With polls approaching, Congress legislators and officials are looting official funds by bribing electorates,8221; said NCP Uttaranchal unit president Suryakant Dhasmana. But the Congress is confident that the package will help it sail through the elections.

8220;The opposition has been perturbed by the record breaking development work,8221; Congress Uttaranchal unit spokesperson Surender Aggarwal said.