IANS

KANPUR ATTACKING the Mayawati government ahead of the fourth phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday charged it with misusing the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) funds as well as neglecting development.

Addressing an election rally in this Uttar Pradesh city, Manmohan Singh said the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government was facing many allegations of corruption.

Noting that the central government had provided assistance to the state government under the NRHM so that health facilities reach villages, the prime minister said: “It is very sad that the important scheme has been misused in Uttar Pradesh.” The Rs 10,000 crore NRHM scam in Uttar Pradesh involving alleged financial irregularities in the supply of medicines and medical equipment is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Two chief medical officers, a deputy chief medical officer and a project manager linked to the scam were found dead and police said Thursday that a health department official, missing since February 7, had also been found dead.

Manmohan Singh said only the Congress, under guidance of Sonia Gandhi, could provide a government in Uttar Pradesh which improves agriculture, employment and educational facilities.

He said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had provided all possible assistance to Uttar Pradesh for its development.

Citing examples, he said Rs 9,000 crore were provided to the state under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for building and improving rural roads and another Rs 24,000 crore for road projects.

He said new rail services had been added connecting Kanpur.

Referring to special package by the central government for Bundelkhand, the prime minister said Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had played an important role in its implementation.

He, however, alleged that the state government had not fully used the package.

The prime minister also charged the government with not paying attention to problems of farmers.

The fourth phase of assembly polls in the state across 56 constituencies will take place on February 19.