Rajnath Singh rules out downsizing8217; Ministry

Asked whether a huge Ministry was not a drain on the state exchequer at a time when the state was experincing a poor fiscal situation, Singh said that the size of the ministry was not going to make any big effect on the state8217;s Financial health.

He, however, underlined the need to take effective steps to augment the financial resources of the state.

He denied that retaining all the Ministers of the Ram Prakash Gupta government, barring four from the hill region was an act of 8220;political expediency8221;.

Singh did not foresee any threat to his Government in the wake of creation of Uttaranchal as the allies were firmly with his Government and the opposition was in 8220;disarray8221;.

The Chief Minister dared the opposition to bring a no-confidence motion in the Vidhan Sabha exuding confidence that such a motion, if brought, would be 8220;defeated8221; and the opposition would not 8220;remain intact8221;.

On whether the fact that the Chief Minister, the state president and top bureaucrats, including the Chief Secretary and top police officials being from upper castes, would alienate the backwards and Dalits from the party, Singh said BJP8217;s support base was 8220;growing8221; and it was poised to emerge stronger.

Singh said he was confident that his party would fare well in recently concluded local bodies polls, but hastened to add that their results would have 8220;no bearing on his Government as these were fought on purely local issues8221;.

The Government was endeavouring several programmes for the welfare of Dalits and Minorities, he added.

In reply to a question, Singh said that the creation of the Uttaranchal state would have no effect on the financial health of the state, though adding that Uttar Pradesh had 8220;of course8221; been deprived of major tourist spots and prominent religious places.

The Chief Minister said that it was difficult to compensate the loss of these places but being a big state was still left with several places of tourist attraction including Ayodhya, Mathura, Agra and Varanasi.

Singh said that in a bid to promote religious places, the Government had undertaken a massive programme to renovate the ghats8217; on the Ganges.

Places of Buddhist pilgrimmage like Shravasti, Sarnath and Kushinagar would be further be developed in a big way as these places had tremendous tourist potential, Singh said.